Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

2,179 Members
16,355 Posts
0 Online
Muscles & Bones
/ Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Folic Acid

peppyest
peppyest
Hi all,I've posted here few times in the past.you're a great group.
My ? is how you are all taking the folic acid with methotrexate.?
I've read differing info on the internet.Thx,Kathy
achymom
achymom
I was prescribed 10mg of folic acid to take 24 hours post MTX injection - told not to take daily, or on the day of the shot, as it counteracts the MTX. Though I know from this board, and from my MIL who is a pharmacist that different rhem docs set up different directions regarding folic acid.

I had a lot of hair loss, so switched to leucovorin, which is a folinic acid, often given with chemo. Same deal, I take 8mg pill 24 hrs post MTX.

Whether it was just my body getting used to the MTX, or the change to folinic acid (not sure), but my hair stopped falling out. phew. Still taking MTX + folinic acid every week.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I take folic acid every day (1mg/day). In addition I take Leukovorin (high dose Folic Acid) 10 hours after my MTX injection. It definitely keeps the side effects from MTX at bay.