I've only been taking 10mg of methotrexate for 3 weeks now and I can not tell any difference...last few days I have been at what I call the hospital pain level. I also have fibromyalgia. I'm having a hard time distinguishing between what's RA pain and what's Fibro pain. Tramadol and Ibuprophen have have not helped much with the pain either. I'm afraid to take Humira and Xeljan because of the possibility of cancer. The RA has caused me the most problems in my knees. I walk with a walker now.

I've been taking 25mg (10 tabs) MTX for 4 years. This is the maximum dose orally for RA. Although it took months to kick in, it is, so far, the only RA med I've not had severe side effects/ allergy from. I think I must have a cast-iron stomach. I am now on my third biologic - Actemra IV and, fingers crossed, it has brought inflammation levels into normal range for the first time since Jan., 2009. Have had some problems on it, such as long-lasting Staph infection but due for Infusion No 4 next week.

I agree with Jen re seeing a Dermatologist. They are the experts and can diagnose the problem and treat. Must admit, I tend to blame RA for any other problems, at first, too but still check them out with my G.P. or Rheumy pretty quickly.

I've been on Plaquenil (400 mg) since November. Added MTX in March (10 mg). Went up to (15 mg) in May. So far nothing is helping too much. Fortunate not to have any side effects other than a couple of mouth sores that lasted about a week each. I also take 2 mg Folic Acid per day and 200 mg Celebrex. Have a feeling my rheumy is going to want to try something else instead of the MTX when I see her in 3 weeks. I will have been on MTX for 4 months by then and she seems to want to switch drugs if something's not working after three months. But I've read on here where it's taken up to six months for MTX to make a difference for some people, so I'm wondering if we should give it some more time or go up to a higher dose. She said 15 mg is the "normal" dose, but I know people take more than that. Hate to abandon something too quickly.

I haven't had any skin issues with any of the drugs so far.

I take 4 pills a week of Methotrexate. Any more than that and I get some mouth sores, and liver numbers go up. Mtx, by itself, never seemed to make any difference. After 3 months, my Rheum added a biologic (Humira) and there were great improvements. If my Rheum doesn't see a good improvement after 3-4 months, he changes my prescription.

There has been a great difference - for good - in my feet. But, my hands are not improving, if anything, getting worse. I started Actemra last month, a shot every other week. Had a Vectra test, now I will be doing Actemra every week.

Hopefully, you will start feeling better soon.

I have had no skin issues - just canker sores,

17.5 mg MTX (7 pills), 200 mg Plaquenil, 200 mg Celebrex. The MTX & Celebrex were doing a pretty good job, but not knocking it all the way out. Added Plaquenil about a month ago, and I am already starting to see a difference. Fatigue has been greatly reduced, as well as irritated eyes. Foot pain is gone - only remaining pain is right hand/wrist which ebbs and flows (ebbing more lately than flowing).

No skin problems aside from a little dryness around my nose (which could be the fluticasone for allergies). No tummy problems. All-in-all, I am tolerating the meds well -- hope that continues!

Good luck -- if you are at a 9, then perhaps upping the dosage would help.

@ Jen

Interesting you brought that up I was just reading about it about 3 days ago & didn't really get too in depth on it. I will go and see my Dermatologist ASAP!

Thanks for your input this was extremely helpful!

Joe

My dr. wants me to take 6 pills. But when I do I get terrible mouth ulcers. Although he is insisting I take 6 I take just 4. Mouth ulcers make me depressed and I can't eat without being in loads of pain. And besides I honestly didn't feel much better on 6 as opposed to 4. But this is just my experience.

I take Plaquenil, 2 GRAMS of folic acid, and 7 mtx pills. I had been taking 10 mtx pills, but got a month long lung and ear infection, so had to get off the meds. My doc and I had talked about lowering down from 10 pills, so I restarted at 7. Seems to be alright!

The first couple of months I would have some nausea, but it eventually went away. I have read research which indicates that mtx works better when you are taking another drug-- plaquenil, sulf, biologic, as the sum is greater than the parts.

As long as mtx works, I am going to take it. Much cheaper than a biologic.

I inject 25 mg every week. Slowly went up from 6 tabs a year ago. It immediately elminated the excruciating flares, and we've been hoping that increasing the dosage will help reduce the fatigue flares and allow me to do some intensive recreating sports. I am not sure how effective it has been. I get tired a lot, a LOT. But I can do a million more things than I could last summer. This fall we are going to try to reduce the dosage and see what happens. I'm not sure if I am just getting better, if getting back in shape is helping my fatigue, or if the meds are.

My dosage is. 08mg weekly which is equivalent to 20mg of the pills. No skin issues for me from it. But I was recently dx'd with psoriasis so I get rashes from that.

Kureha, I started getting the mouth & nose ulcers a few months ago after being on mtx for over 3yrs. We tripled my folic acid and it's gotten much better. It worked pretty quickly. I still get a nose ulcer occasionally but the mouth ulcers haven't come back. There's also something drs call magic mouthwash that I've heard good things about. It's a combination of different ingredients mixed together but a few are rx. At least here in the States. You could probably Google it for more info to show your Dr if he's not familiar with it.

Take care,
Emerald

I started at two, went up to five, then tapered down over the next 4 years to two per week. Started not feeling all that hot a few months ago, so upped it to three per week. Seems to be working. When I was taking 5 per week, I felt GREAT, but my liver enzymes started creeping up, so I worked on tapering the dose down. No side effects, except for a few strands of hair falling out.

i take .5ml weekly subq...which is equal to 5 pills in the pill form. I was up to .8mls but my liver numbers rose too high for my rheumys comfort so we had to come back down. I also take folic acid daily and leucorvin*sp* after my MTX to help combat side effects. It works i guess.

I was just diagnosed a month ago. Dr started me on 15 Mg ( 6 pills) mtx a week along with 400 hydroxychloroquine and 1 mg folic acid per day.

So far ( 4 doses) the only side effect I have had has been a little nausea and dizziness about an hour after I take it that lasts an hour or so and major fatigue the next day( I take in the evening so I don't have anything I have to do and I can just go to bed!) This last dose, the nausea and dizziness seemed better, so maybe I am getting used to it!

I go back to the rhuemy on Monday for a recheck and see if he will keep me on this regime.

I take 8 MTX pills 2.5 mg once a week, have not ran into any problems so far, blood work always comes out fine, so feeling blessed. I also take a Folic Acid tab nightly along with my vitamins I usually take. Feeling pretty good over all.

Have you considered an injectable MTX? Shouldn't have nausea wit it.