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...

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mypugglesx2 08/13/2012

I went off MTX 5 weeks ago because of bad headaches (per my dr) she told me to stay off for tw weeks then start Leflunomide (arava). I waited 3 weeks then started. Well after two days I started feeling the side effects. I stayed on for 6 days and couldn't handle anymore so I stopped them. I called my dr and asked what she suggested. She said sulfasazaline which I can't take due to allergies of sulfa. I asked if I could start mtx again and she said ok. Well this was this past weekend. I have muscle pain and joint pain and some nausea since then. I was only off the Leflunomide
for three days before starting mtx again. I'm just curious what is going on. Flare for being off mtx, going back on with the other still in my system? Im just ruinous if anyone else has been through this. Before going off MTX I was pretty much pain free. Thanks, Laura

mypugglesx2 08/13/2012

Forgot to mention I've been on mtx for 2 years

deleted_user 08/13/2012

I have been on mtx for 8 yrs now and I am one of the lucky ones that does not get headaches from it..none that I can't handle anyway... Yes the pain does come back when you go off the mtx.. sometimes within a day or two other times a week ... Just heard that if you have a bad headache that if you drink 2 glasses of gatorade that the headache will immediately disappear... So I did have a nasty headache and went out and got some... By the time I got home..no headache... since then no headache so I have no idea if that works or not..It might , I can't remember where I heard that or read it but I am prepared anyway..
I was on the mtx pills then went to the injectable which was a lot better for me..Only took the pills for a month...

mypugglesx2 08/13/2012

I asked my dr about injections, I told her I heard they were better than pills. All she said was not necessarily. Actually it was the nurse so I'll ask the dr on my next visit.

Angelpuss 08/14/2012

Laura, at one stage I was taking MTX pills - 25mg - and Arava for a couple of months. So, your flare shouldn't be from going back to MTX with Arava still in your system. The flare could be from being off MTX for five weeks, though. The MTX may well take time to kick back in.

I have had no real problems with MTX pills (have been taking it for almost three years now) but a lot of people seem to find injections cause less side effects.
Jenny (51percent) recently started a group - Tips for taking MTX- which has good tips for both tablets and injections.
I hope being back on MTX will help you to be almost pain-free again.
Hugs

mypugglesx2 08/14/2012

Thank you so much Angelpuss, I will check it out.

deleted_user 08/15/2012

I was on MTX injections for about 7 months until I could not longer tolerate the nausea and headaches. I am currently on Arava and Enbrel and have not had the side effects associated with MTX. I am hoping (and praying!) for better results for a longer period than I have previously experienced with medications!

Good luck with your meds, I'll say a prayer for you! :)

Have a great day!

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