I was on it for 10 years no problems with doses between 10 & 15 mg, I'd take it before bed on Sun nights. Then it started making me nauseous, so I stopped for a while. I am back on it, but just 7.5mg. I take 1 pill in the mid-morning & the other 2 around 9pm. I don't ever recall it making me tired, although I have been more tired lately, but I can't pin point that to the mtx.

Thank you. I will be taking 6 pills as of right now and she said there is room to increase or decrease, I see her again in 3 months and will add Enbrel

First, you need to stop the pills and get on injectable. The pills ruined my stomach, and it is now known (at least in Canada) the drug is not effective in pill form. So makes you sick, hurts you but doesn't work, thing! Canadian rheumatologists mostly won't even prescribe pills, because it is so ineffective!

I was on mthx for 9 years, pills, but mostly 15mg injectable. I finally had to go off because my liver enzymes were out of control. It was really good in combo with a biologic. So definitely go for the Enbrel.

As for how I take it - once a week! I am back on it again at 10 mg, 3rd shot on Tuesday, and I take it when I remember. The first week I was quite nauseous for 2 days, the second week, a bit of feeling funny for a few hours, this week, nothing! I have the feeling my body probably remembered it. Plus, it is already working, although it does not last the week, nor deal much with the hand flares and the tendonitis. I think I will have to change biologics for that, but I need to see if I can tolerate mthx with my liver, because the drug I want to switch to needs to have a DMARD with it.

As for tired, the prednisone certainly counters that! I've been supplementing with that for almost 2 years now. Terrible drug, don't take it if you can get by without it. In my case, I get such bad flares without it, I simply am not able to get off of it. Pain is one thing, large red flares is another.

When I was on MTX I would take it around dinner on Sunday. I was on it for about 2 years & got down to 2.5mg. My enzymes were sometimes out of whack but I contribute that to sometimes have an extra beer or 2 on the weekends. Yes, I still drank! Typically I could get away without it showing on the lab works unless it was a holiday weekend like 4th of July or New Years eve. LOL!

I'm still on MTX after 25 years. I've been on pills and on the injectable. I've been on 5 mg up to 25 mg. The injectable is definitely easier on the body: for me it meant the nausea went away.

When I was on the 25mg pills I would take them on a Monday night after a high carb meal [good excuse for pizza]. About 48 hours later I would become lethargic and that would last 24-36 hours. However, it never caused me to take a day off work. And I was NEVER in bed with RA, whether on drugs or not.

I', one of the lucky ones. My liver enzymes were never abnormal no matter which dose I was on or whether it was pills or injectable.

Brownsfan: why did you have to get off MTX?

I think mthx is already starting to work. My hands have been so much better three mornings in a row. Unfortunately my liver enzymes did go up after 2 weeks. I reduced my prednisone to 4 mg today. I am also going to try and get off Arava which is hard on the liver, and is not doing much!

I take weekly injections and does not make me tired. Not that I notice.

Glad it's helping you, Marlene.

Mthx has always given me energy, including now. I used to be wrecked by the time I was supposed to make supper. Now, I am cooking at 8 pm and I am full of energy. So happy!

I do know that mthx makes some people very tired, but I have never had that. Mind you, it takes a lot to make me tired, even unmedicated.

Thanks, Warrior Gal, it is just so nice to not be in so much pain. Today, I had to walk down to the basement to get something. In the past, it was one step at a time, hanging onto the handrail with both hands. Well, today I just walked down, then half way back up, I went "Hey, I'm walking on the stairs!!" Yeah me!

I started Methatrexate on oct 1st and after 2 days it hurt to swallow, so I didn't know if I was getting a cold or the meds it happened at same time. So she had me off until my appt on the 19. Started it on 22 so this sat will be my second week on it. So far no problems at all no nausea or anything. Knock on wood. Will start Enbrel in January. She gave me some Pred to help with flares until Methatrexate kicks in. Hope it is soon. My hands were the problem now it is knees and ankles. UGH.

I still believe that MTX is the best starter drug.....and may be the only drug some need to ever take for RA.

Brownsfan: you're also taking Folic Acid, right? [Get the doctor to Rx it - best to have pharmaceutical grade.]

Oh yes I am taking that as well.