Whoa. New one to me, but am learning all the time about this fine disease and it's many treatments. How about find a cure and just Fix it already?

Thanks for the heads up - I have no info, sorry.

I had drug-induced (Remicade) bone marrow suppression. I was told that low platlets and white cells is an early indicator, but with bone marrow suppression, you generally have reduced counts on all or several of your blood counts. All counts were low for me. It was called pancytopenia. A bone marrow biospy ruled out cancer, and other blood work ruled out other causes.

I'm assuming your doctor would have done a WBC, and told you if you had anything else going on, especially white cells/neutrophils.

Bone marrow suppression is a rare, but serious, side-effect of most all the RA drugs, MTX included.

All these RA drugs have serious side effects but without them I, for one, have no quality of life so that's the risk we take. I've had low hemoglobin count before and the doctor usually tells me to lay off the MTX for a week or two and then we do the test again and so far it's always bounced back up to normal levels.
Sue

thanks for the replies. It's all good information and I continue to learn.
I have an appt next week to look into an alternative treatment and get off the MTX. Until then I increase the folic acid and have my blood count re-checked on Tuesday (she wants it checked again before the holiday in case it drops further).. She considered stopping the MTX to see if the hemoglobin came back up but for now we are staying status quo. She knows I may be going off the MTX if the other treatment pans out. For now I ride the wave. BTW...for me MTX is NOT a viable option to treat this nasty disease - at least not yet. I am not ready to give in and just take the MTX without exploring other options. I have not had enough time to absorb all of this yet.
Even my pharmacist said the side effects of MTX are horrendous. I have only been on it for 4 weeks and at 10mg I have had mouth sores, pain in my calves (blood clots the doctor worried) and now this...My Reflexologist/Reiki practitioner found some stress on my pancreas and spleen. I say enough!
If the other treatment doesn't work out, I will try something else. If that doesn't work then yes I will concede to the MTX if I must. That's just me and this is just MY story. I appreciate all your support!

Methotrexate is a chemotherapeutic drug.
Having practiced veterinary chemotherapy for years, I am very aware of its effects.
This is why before every chemo dose, we would run a CBC, to make sure that the patient's immune system could handle even further suppression. That's how it is with all chemo drugs.

To treat cancer, I believe it is a higher dose, but don't quote me on that. I haven't looked into dosing protocols.

I know that rheumatologists try to use the lowest effective dose on any medication that they use.

That's how I am with all of my meds. If I can get similar results with a lower dose and it is ok with my doctor (generally they are more than willing), I do.

I don't take anything without knowing its full spectrum. Then again, I am anal retentive about that kinda stuff, it is ingrained into me.

Osteoarthritis=better with NSAIDs
Autoimmune Arthritis= better with chemo