Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis Support Group
Polymyositis (PM) is a type of chronic inflammation of the muscles (inflammatory myopathy) related to dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis. The inflammation is predominantly of the endomysium in polymyositis, whereas dermatomyositis is characterized by primarily perimysial inflammation.
Hope you all are doing well. I just finished my first semester of college! Really proud of myself that I made it through.
So I started taking taking Methotraxate back in feb. I went off because my white cells were low and then went back on it again in the end of March. Hair started to fall out really bad all through June. I have now bald spots on my sides that I am trying to hide but its too noticable *sigh*. told my doctor and now he puts me on Cellcept( well the generic that my insurance covers; mycophenolate) and tells me we'll just take a chance with this one. I'm like...Greeeaaatt!! i was allergic to Plaqunile, methotraxate messed up my hair and so I'm hoping this one will work for me. I just want to know who else is also taking it? Took my first dose when I got up, odd its the first one I have to take on an empty stomach.
So I started taking taking Methotraxate back in feb. I went off because my white cells were low and then went back on it again in the end of March. Hair started to fall out really bad all through June. I have now bald spots on my sides that I am trying to hide but its too noticable *sigh*. told my doctor and now he puts me on Cellcept( well the generic that my insurance covers; mycophenolate) and tells me we'll just take a chance with this one. I'm like...Greeeaaatt!! i was allergic to Plaqunile, methotraxate messed up my hair and so I'm hoping this one will work for me. I just want to know who else is also taking it? Took my first dose when I got up, odd its the first one I have to take on an empty stomach.
If you have a drop in blood pressure or feel bad then you started on too high a dosage. I had a bad experience when I first started the Cellcept because I took 1500mg per day and my body revolted! In my experience, the Cellcept has been a great med by starting at a lower dose and getting used to the med, then adding to the dose over time.
I have noticed great improvement in my health with the Cellcept. No Friday night MTX "hangovers" of feeling bad anymore. My stamina has improved greatly over the past six months. I do have a Scleroderma liver issue and my liver enzymes have returned to normal (for now) thanks to Cellcept.
I try to take my meds on an empty stomach if possible. I have taken the meds many times on a full stomach and it has not been an issue for me. The med is best absorbed by the body when taken on the empty stomach. Be sure to discuss with the pharmacist about the eight to twelve hour spread between dosages. I take my 500mg at 1 PM and the last 250mg at 10PM.
I hope you will experience improvement with the Cellcept. I found Cellcept to be an ideal match for me at this point. Good Luck!
I just took my third dose. So far it isn't bad, may have to wait and see after a few more doses. They start me off with the 500mg as well.
Thank you for your input.