I am on 3,000IU Vitamin D daily. I have 5mg 3 days weekly of Folic Acid, (MTX on Friday and Folic Acid on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday

Hi Amberhere, The folic acid is used to protect the brain from the effects of MTX. The high dose folic acid (your 5mg) is usually taken by many patients twelve hours after taking MTX. This means many patients take the folic acid the next day after taking the MTX. Do talk to a pharmacist about the best time for you to take the folic acid too. I do not understand why your doctor is having you wait four days after MTX to take the folic acid, but there might be a reason for you. Be sure to find out too.

The vitamin D3 depends on how little vitamin D is in your system. My doctor had me taking 5000mg of D3 daily. The next blood test showed too much D3 and I had to stop D3 for three months. Today, I will do 1000mg of D3 about twice a week. A low level of vitamin D3 in the system is often an indicator of organ problems too. Kidney, liver, lungs, heart, and intestines need D3 for healthy operation too. Much research has been done on D3 and how it is very important for our bodies.

I take 5 mg of Folic Acid the day after my MTX dose. My understanding is the MTX strips the Folic Acid from our system but too much Folic Acid (or taken too close to your MTX) can make the MTX not as effective. I asked my doctor about the 5 mg dose after several people here reported taking more but she was comfortable staying with the 5 mg as I wasn't having too many ill effects requiring a higher dose.

As far as vitamin D, I take 600 mg daily with my calcium. I've been tested several times and my vitamin D has always been okay. I do try to get outside for at least a few minutes every day. The sun is the best source of vitamin D but make sure you protect your skin. MTX makes you more sun sensitive.

Great questions to ask your doctor. They will know more about your specific situation and how you are doing.

Yes, too much vit D is as bad as not enough, so you need to be tested to determine the amount you should take. I get re-tested every 6 months or so...

Hi Amber. You are on the UK protocol for Vit D and Folic acid. Part of that protocol is the Rheumatologist checking these levels. Do put it on the list to ask him at next visit. It all reads pretty ok to me. Hope you are doing ok. Autumm

I take 5000mg vitamin d each day and leucovorin( similar to folic acid ) 12 hours after my MTX injection.

Hello everyone. I haven't been online much recently as I sem to be sleeping my days and nights away, but I think that I need to do some research regarding my dosages of each as I take whatever and never really pay attention to the dosage amounts since I buy my Vit D and calcium over the counter and fo with whatever is lowest priced so that I can get a large amount. My Folic Acid is prescibed by my doctor and I take whatever dosage is on the bottle once a day and in fact asked did I need to continue taking it since I no longer take the Forteo shot as I thought that they went together, but was told that I needed to take it due to my age. I think that I need to do more research on that also. I am tired of my age 58 always being thrown into the mix. I take MIX or however it is abbrev one the weekend. 2 pills on Sat morning, 2 sat evening and 2 sunday morning. Again I asked why am I taking MIX since I do not have arthritis and was told due to my age and possible bone breakage. My oldest son is supposed to be relocating near me within a short period of time (I will believe it when I see it), at which time he plans to take over my treatment and get me in shape. He is a health guru and he does not look his age at old. He has always been about fitness. He is 42 but looks as if he is in his 20s, but his regimen would probably kill me. His daughters work out with him and they love it. I will try. At this time I am willing to try most things. My main problem at this time is my neuropathy and swollen ankles which cause my blood glucose to shoot up and I do believe that stress causes everything else to get out of whack. I know that when I am stressed I am useless. I try not to allow anything to cause me stress and I am so grateful that I do not have children around me. I would feel so bad for them as I would probably bite their heads off. There are days that I sleep to avoid talking to my daughter and even find myself angry that she can get out with her friends and have a life while I am stuck in these 4 walls. The internet is my salvation.

Brenda, have you considered taking anti depressants?? You sound very down to me and that cannot be helping things. some of them also help with the feeling anxious about things like talking to your daughter. I am so sorry things are not getting better for you. May be time for an update with doctors to make sure everything is moving forward...
Blessings to you.

Shawna

My doctor has me on 5,000 iu's daily and checks my blood regularly. Because I have difficulty maintaining my vitamin d levels, I quickly become deficient even at 2,000 iu's daily.

Taking Methotraxate 15 mgs once a week and only 1mg of Folic acid...is that right? I am losing my hair(which is super thick and curly) more so than ever. Co-workers are noticing too that I have bald spots coming in :0

Hi Krissytin - the folic acid dose does sound a bit low but as everyone is different I wouldn't like to say its too low. When I first took MTX in March 2014 I lost some hair but not loads - it seems OK at the moment. Perhaps worth asking your doctor about this?