Why didn't your doctor give you something for swelling. I have always taken NAIDS as part of my daily meds. I have not had swelling in 8 months but I take it to keep it that way. I have taken naproxen, Celebrex, ibuprofen and currently taking nabumetone.

I love MXT. It has made a huge difference in me and given me my life back.

I have said this before but I say it again. I am glad I did not read all the negative stuff about MTX. Much of what is written is about the high dose MTX and not the low dose that we take. Everything says the side effects are rare yet so many people complain. I am the type that if someone says they got sick after eating Mc Donalds. I am going to feel sick too. Lucky for me I started taking MTX before reading all the negative commits saying we are putting poison in our bodies. What I knew at the time I started talking MTX is it was the most effective treatment for RA. I mostly watched You Tube on RA. It was gold standard and base of other treatments too. I was excited to start taking it. I was sure it was going to help me. I think my positive attitude is why I got better and have never had any side effects.

Hey bigiblue,

Unfortunately, you're going to get mixed reactions with what you can and can't take with methotrexate. Here's one link I found:
http://quamut.com/quamut/methotrexate/page/interactions.html

That link also says methotrexate cannot be taken with Sulfa drugs. yet, when I was on methotrexate, my doctor prescribed Sulfasalazine (a sulfa drug) which is commonly given in combination with methotrexate.

It also has a lot of warnings including folic acid....so take this information partly with a grain of salt.

I have spoken with pharmacists about their education on herbs and supplements. I was told that during schooling, they only covered one chapter of what's out there. Specifically, they did not go over interactions (so I was told). So again, although pharmacists are great about some things, they don't know everything....I've certainly gotten wrong information from them before.

In high doses of methotrexate, NSAIDS are also not suppose to be taken. you of course are not on high does of mtx.

If I were you, I would look up the supplements you are interested in. Find out how they work which will give you a big clue with what interacts with methotrexate. If you'd like I could do this for you later on, but right now I'm at work so....

I hope that helps!
Hugs,
Sarah

Sorry,
I'm going to correct myself. It says that sulfa drugs increase the effectiveness of mtx....my bad. Sorry I'm at work...read it quickly!

Here's another site that shows beneficial supplements and one's you may want to consider avoiding. Funny enough, folic acid is in both but if you understand how FA works, then it makes sense. Here's the link:
http://www.prevention.com/cda/vendorarticle/methotrexate/HN1439000/health/drug.encyclopedia/

I can remember asking my pharmacists about drink wine and MXT. He told me a few glasses of wine shouldn't hurt. Goes to show you how much they know.

Thanks Cinnamint
I did take Mortrin Mobic Arthrotec Aleve and you name it,oh and lets not forget Pred. All of them exept the Pred gave me elevated Blood Pressure. So when I've read that Boswellia is the same as some stron Corticosteroids, Thought I'd give it a try. I started taking it 3 days ago and it is too soon to tell if its working. I think if all the other meds were ok to take with the mtx then this herb is probably not going to hurt either. Thanks for your inpu and I'm glad mtx has helped you. I hope it is going to help me too, I think it already has somewhat. Are you still taking it and how much do you take?

Sara.
Those were some great sites. I will use them for interactions when needed. I did not see Boswellia on there. I am going to keep on taking it and see what happens.

Bigiblue,

Sounds like a plan! Thanks for thinking of me, btw!
Hugs,
Sarah

I can think of one herb that works well,only problem is you eat everything in the fridge. DOH, did I type that out loud? On a serious note I do take an adult formula multi vitamin. I have only been taking them for about 10 days so it's a bit premature to say if it has any advantage or not. Good Luck n Stay Strong!

I take 7 MTX a week. Folic acid and nabumetone daily along with my blood pressure pills. The doctor is getting me off all my other meds as long as I continue to exercise and lose weight. I have cut out one of my blood pressure pills. I hope to get off my blood pressure pills too.

When the weight is off if all goes well I will ask if we can try reducing my MTX. I would like to be on the lowest dose that controls the disease. I have not talked to him about this yet. I do think I felt pretty good with 5 MTX but he wanted me to take more. Maybe he seen something I did not feel. He is good and I trust what he tells me.

I forgot to comment on vitamins. I have always been a vitamin junkie. But with RA your immune system is already in overdrive attacking parts of your body it shouldn't. You take MTX to knock your immune system out of overdrive. Vitamins will only help your immune system attack your joints. I stop taking vitamins, but I eat very good. Lots of food from the top antioxidants group. http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongnutrition/a/antioxidants.htm

There has been alot of talk also that vitamins can be harmful. I don't know what to believe but for now I am getting plenty from me food. I log what I eat on Fitday.com. I can see what vitamins I might be lacking if any. I seldom see one I am not getting enough of.