If you are taking it orally 5 to 6 tabs once a wk then watch out for nausea and flu like symptoms. I took it for months and it made me sick every time. Rheumy finally took me off 3 weeks ago because I was having so much problems with my bowels. When & if I go back on I will do the injections. I have everything ready to start just waiting till I want to give it a try. Right now I am getting by with the Remicade and supplements and feel pretty good. As good as I probably am going to get. Good Luck, Chuck

I took MTX for about 1 month. I had terrible sweating at night and felt terrible for about 24 hours after taking it. I switched to Arava and am having much, much better results. I do know that MTX works very well for a lot of people. Good luck.

I have been on Mtx before for a while, then it really was not helping so I went onto Arava which I really like and it helped a lot. I a now on Simponi so my Rheumatologist switched m no to MTX. I jut sarted it lst ee. I don't really like it and it has not kicked in yet. I am full of aches pains, and hurts everywhere.The chilly and sometimes damp weather does not help much either. It does not make me feel ill. I have a cast iron stomach but before when I was on it I did notice tht my hair became very very thin and broke off. Good luck with MTX.Right now I a taking 6 tabs weekly, but before I had gone up to doses that were 25mg injections.

I have been on mtx for 8mos now and I still don't know if its working. I startted Enbrel 3 months into the mtx and it has made the biggest difference.
The side effects I get from the mtx are a migraine the day after I take it that lasts a couple of days.
I am going to see my rheumy today so we will see what she says about continuing.
My hair is also falling out, but I have had my hair to do that before mtx.
Jess

Ive been on Methotrexate since last July. I didn't get side effects until I was close to max dose. I had GI symptoms (diarrhea, nausea) and actually still get nausea from time to time but pretty much all other unpleasantness has subsided. I always make sure I eat a big meal with it right before bed so I sleep through the majority of the symptoms. I also tripled my folic acid on my methotrexate day per my Rheumy and that helped. I don't have to do that anymore. I really didn't notice a difference with just the Methotrexate. I was started on Humira after 3 months of Methotrexate and I've been pain free since the first injection. Hope you have great success with it!

Thanks, everyone for sharing your experiences with MTX. I really appreciate your answers.

I experienced some nausea, tiredness and some hair loss with MTX at first. I take it late on Saturday nights and now only experience a bit of tiredness on Sundays. I started with 4 pills once a week and have built up to 8. I really noticed an upsurge in energy and feeling better after four months. I have been on it now for 2-1/2 years and went into remission after about a year. I do not take anything else, other than Tylenol Arthritis and Nortriptylin at night to sleep better. I think it takes awhile for your body to adjust to it...but some people have fairly violent reactions to it.

I started about 3 months ago and have noticed steady improvement since about one month in. The only side effects I've had have been mouth sores and some fatigue the day after I take it. The mouth sores went away after increasing my folic acid intake for a little while. I opted to take it by injection once a week to avoid stomach issues. I had a hard time deciding to start mtx but am so glad I did. I feel like I'm slowly gaining my life back.

Good luck to you! I hope you begin to feel better soon.

Karen

bumping more important, and urgent threads (than mine)

I have been on mxt now for nearly 5 years. I did have occasional sickness to start off with but to be honest, that was all. It has definatly slowed the disease a bit and i found that it kicked in about 10 weeks into treatment. Good luck with the treatment!

I started methotrexate 6 months ago. I am taking 6 tablets on Sat. I was doing fine til recently then I started getting mouth sores. Took me off folic acid and put me on leuvotrin (spelling might be wrong) 3 times a week. It made me sick first 2 times, but definitely feel better than before using mtx. Hope this helps.

I saw my rheumy yesterday and she said that even if I cannot "feel" the mtx working, I should continue it b/c Enbrel works best in combination with it.
About the headaches: she suggested I double the folic acid on the day of mtx and the two days after and see if that helps. A headache may be a tradeoff for me for the benefits i get from Enbrel.
I will let everyone know this week how it works. I take mtx on Thursday nights, so here's hoping I don't get a migraine on Friday and Sat.
Jess

I was a bit sick at first, but quite mild. It never really did kick in the first 5 years, until I added a biologic. Then my life was perfect. Except for the liver deterioration. I was off of it for 6 months, and my liver was improving, but I was in constant flares, and exhaustion. I went back on a tiny injection - 5mg, 3 weeks ago and am much improved. Except yesterday I went for a bike ride, and the liver was killing me.

if you have stomach problems, switch to injectable. It is easy, works better and won't hurt your stomach.

ive taken mext for 20 yrs, with compazine, its worked very well for me, yes you feel sick for 24 hrs, but drink lots of water small snacks .all med. can have side aff. your dr. no best

I thank you all for your answers and advice.

After 2 weeks, I haven't had much of a side-effect, except for a slight headache and feeling tired (and that may not even be from the MTX).

So, fingers crossed that it kicks in and will help with the RA as, at the moment, it is slowing me down so much.