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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Methatrexate side effects

lretz
lretz
Hello everybody, I have had RA for a little over a year. I treated it with alkaline water, veggie juice, and supplements until the pain got to a level at night that wouldn't allow me to sleep anymore. The RA dr started me on methatrexate a month ago. My first dose I took 2 pills in the AM and 2 at night. It seemed to make my pain worse, plus sick to my stomach and extremely tired for several days. I called the dr and she had me reduce it to 2 pills a day and added prednisone. Now about a day after I take it I have vomiting, extreme fatigue, clammy skin, and my whole body shaking, especially my hands. The dr says the side effects should get better with time. What I'm wondering is how much time, and do they really get better?
RCross
RCross
Are you taking prescription strength folic acid as well? I had to switch to injections because of nausea.
stephgas
stephgas
lretz, can you share some info and/or links about treating with alkaline water, veggie juice, and supplements? dh and i have been juicing for health for months and are very interested in ensuring our diet has adequate vitamins and minerals. were you having luck controlling pain and inflammation with juicing and supplements?
deleted_user
deleted_user
wow ,..you take methotrexare everyday ?? and two a day ..that seems like alot ..like ALOT.. wishing you a better tomorrow....hang in there .
trishcorsi
trishcorsi
If it is daily it sounds like a. lot, but I take 6 at a time, once a week. The prednisone is more than likely what's giving you the shakes & clammy hands- Trish
deleted_user
deleted_user
I agree with the others. Two a day sounds like too much. I started out with only 3 pills a week and now take 5 a week, (plus plaquenil twice a day.) I also take prescription folic acid daily. My only side effect of MTX is extreme fatigue for a couple days after taking them. Unfortunately, it's not controlling my pain or swelling at all so I'm going to ask be taken off it when I see my new rheumy next week.

I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time. It seems like a lot for your doctor to ask you suffer through all that. Not sure I wouldn't try to find another doctor.....

Hoping things get better soon.
RCross
RCross
Maybe I'm reading it wrong but I think she was taking 4 (2am/2pm) and now is only taking 2..per week, not day. Since she stated that the next day she's experiencing vomiting, fatigue, etc.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I would definitely recommend the injectable methotrexate. I too had vomiting and bad side effects and switched to the injections and have had no side effects since.
lretz
lretz
Thank you all for your replies. I only take the meds 1/day week. Did switching to injections make a big difference in the nausea and vomiting? I hate needles, but if it helps I'm willing to try it.

Steph, in my experience, the juicing and alkaline water really helps. I can definitely feel the difference when I don't. You can get a pitcher that makes mineralized alkaline water from vivah20.com. If you call and talk to them and tell them you have RA and show a pic of something like Methatrexate they will discount it 50%. With juicing I use cucumber, carrots, celery, kale, lemon and an apple. I sweeten it a little with stevia(a natural sweetener).
lretz
lretz
Oh, yes I am taking folic acid.
stephgas
stephgas
lretz, thanks for the info! i'm definitely going to look into the alkaline water. our go to juice base is carrot, apple, swiss chard, ginger, and a handful of frozen berries (i buy a mix of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and cherries usually). we've recently added the dreaded kale to our mix (i hate hate hate kale) and tossing in 1/2 lemon seems to help the flavor. we don't love the flavor that cucumber adds, do you find it helps inflammation? sometimes we add beets when the farmstand down the road has them - it's a nice change.