Hi Brianna

I have been on Methotrexate at varying doses for the past 18months. I started at a dose of 10mg orally weekly and then because my response wasn't adequate my neuro increased my dosage slowly up to 35 mg intra-muscularly weekly which is by all accounts a very high dose. I experienced bad side-effects especially on the high dose. I suffered severe nausea, abdominal pain,headaches and general fatigue for about 3 to 4 days after each weekly dose. I also became very anaemic and required several blood transfusions because the methotrexate seemed to suppress my bone Marrow too much. I also seemed to pick up infections extremely easily. So we stopped the methotrexate for 6 weeks and then restarted it at 12.5mg orally weekly again which I can tolerate. I am also on Azathioprine and prednisone at the same time. I'm not completely conviced but my neuro seems to think that the high dose methotrexate did help although the side effects became problematic. I did have a 10 week period of relative improvement before my recent crisis so perhaps the high dose was helping? I must say from a side effect profile azathioprine is much less problematic in my case although so many others on the site seem to have had problems with that drug too. In my case it has had no real side effects. I just wonder why your doctor has chosen methotrexate for you. In SA it isn't a first line drug and only patients like myself who have refractory disease which fails to respond to multiple treatments are put onto it. Your neurologist must have a reason for it in your case though. Perhaps you could ask about the other treatments too?

I really hope this helps you in some way Brianna. Let us know what your docs say.

Hugs
Ange

Thank You so much! that Helped alot.
Im really scared about new meds because with school starting back soon if i have bad side effects I cant stay home because i cant miss school.
Im not sure why he chose methotrexate, but we see a specialist to talk about other kinds and discuss alternat options which I hope for.

I really Appreciate you taking your time to help me.
Once again, Thank You!
-Brianna Lynne

It's a pleasure Brianna. I hope you get sorted at your next appointment! I don't want to completely put you off the methotrexate because in lower doses I have heard it can be effective and tolerated well. I have been on so many of the different drugs used for MG though and I just think there are other possibilities with less side effects that if I were you I would prefer to try first. Goodluck C!!
Ange

I am just wondering why not IVIg on a regular basis? My daughter's doc at Stanford says it is the most benign treatment for teenagers. The docs my daughter sees have specifically kept her off any immunosuppressants because she goes to public high school (and also because of the known/unknown long term side effects). It's worth asking. Thanks. Sarah

Thank you, Both of you!
I'll be sure to ask my Doctors about it and if there is another option.
You two have been bunches of help!
-Brianna Lynne