I have been taking methotrexate for a year. I take 20mg weekly, half on Thursday and half on Friday. I have taken folic acid since beginning the mtx. I stated getting mouth sores so my doctor increased my folic acid and that has helped. Recently planequel was added so that hopefully the prednisone can be tapered off. Other than the mouth sores I usually have some mild diarrhea a couple of days after taking the mtx.

I've been on it for 11 months the first 1-3 months I felt sick on and off after injections. I find taking it on an empty stomach works for me since I get nauseous after I take it. I felt like my chest was full. Not a pain just uncomfortable like a heavy fullness. Not sure could have been all my medicines mixing together lol Another thing was it makes my hair pretty thin. Luckily I have a lot of hair so it's not visibly noticeable just something I feel and notice while washing it. Does give me some random pimples sometimes. It took 6 months for it to fully work for me but WOW I feel amazing on it. Out of everything I'm on methotrexate does the best things for me. I feel like it gave me my functionality back. Sounds silly but I needed help getting to the bathroom and getting out of bed etc. So this was great!

took it for three years.

with leucovorin (spelling) or folic acid.

first the pills the the injections.

then a long heart to heart after multiple years of infections, especially pneumonias and the self care needed to medicate around mtx and the brain fog were going to result in the loss of my job which holds up an entire house of cards.

consult with pulmonologist and rheumie ended up with my chart officially notating that we have parted mtx ways, permanently. i don't get the kick I should get from my biologic because I now refuse to pair the mtx with it. the rheumie has to work harder with me as a stand alone biologic person (i worked through ALL the dmards in six years). i am sicker RA wise but I am a better employee at work even though I am hobbling around.

i am happy for the folks who can work full time with this drug and not get repeated infections or hospitalizations. for those that can self care around and with this med I also hug.

I am also glad folks can pay cash for this med when the chips are down health insurance wise. it is available and widely used.

Ros

I took it for about 8 months - developed liver toxicity. My liver enzymes were doubling every two days...and continued to do that even weeks after quitting.

It can have a cumulative effect in your liver.

I quit it in Dec 2011 along with all medication because it was suspected that it was methotrexate and another drug. It ended up being methotrexate and Cymbalta. BAD POWER COMBO!

I started MTX shots .6ml 15mg 3 weeks ago and taking 1mg folic acid per day, After my first shot the next day I had a very slight sore throat and very slight runny nose the second shot I had more of a runny nose and sore throat with a mild headache which lasted 2 days. With my last shot last Thursday night Saturday morning I had what felt like a cold with runny nose (clear discharge) cough sore throat and a pretty good headache which has continued it seems to be getting a little better but is still there. I searched on the internet and have seen reference to flu like symptoms but not that much about cough, runny nose and sore throat. I don't think it a cold or flu I have had very little stomach problems, fatigue or other side affects. MTX since the last shot seem to be helping less joint pain, swelling and less fatigue and would like to continue
I called my rheumatologist he said those are not usual symptoms and asked if it would help to cut dose he said to cut to .5ml if I wanted
I need help with some questions
1 is 15mg a usual starting dose for injection
2 is runny nose, cough and sore throat possible side affects
3 when will the side affects get the worst and start to get better
4 do you think it is a good idea to lower dose if so by how much

Total time on mtx is around 5 plus years out of total of 7 plus with the disease.

Taken off 7 tablets (17.5) after first 18 months or so because of liver enzyme results. Some loss of hair but not so much nausea that first round. After a year off and failure of arava put on at lower dose of 5 tablets (12.5mg) with 5 mg of prednisone daily to back up. his has reduced to 2.5mg in the good times but was not able to give it up entirely and now back on 5mg when not on a higher dose for problems.

Whether mtx or prednisone get a lot of red marks on skin eg site of blood tests, little knocks. Also have some RA nodules which I think is the disease and not drugs.

More hair loss which settled to a steadier amount after a year or so. Last two years of mtx a lot of brain fog and feeling horrible day after dose. Bloated gut for day after always. Have tried taking the mtx with Vit C which helped for a while, keeping fluid intake up and spreading out the dose or taking all at once.

Not sure I can say any scientific consistency in what I tried. I am inclined to think the Vit C improves matters slightly - especially the "good Vit C" - ie slower release ones. At the moment 2 tablets at lunchtime and three at night also working better in terms of side effects but the mtx wall of protection is definitely being breached by the inner beast nowadays.

I have had plaquenil added a year ago (400mg a day) and the folic (5mg taken day after mtx).

I probably will be asked to try increased mtx but because of the liver issues before and day after nausea the rheumy says reluctant to try that.

I assume you have been put on this and want to know what to expect but as so often with any drug for anything issues, if any, vary.

Incidentally, I slightly know a woman whose husband (now mid 70s) has been on mtx 20 years and does well on it. i could make a "male" remark here but will leave others to think of what in my head!!

I give myself a weekly .8cc shot ( still hold my breath! ) for over a year now. At first I had no symptoms but now my joints get stiff so I take it at night...usually a little stiff still in the morning but at least not sick to my stomach...what fun we all have!! 8))

I was on MTX for about 2 yrs. My humble opinion is this, It's the first drug I was given and after reading the scary side effects of so many of these meds, a new RA'er, I was like ok, MTX has been on the market the longest, and is the least of all evils. I didn't know how bad side effects would be. Then got used to feeling like crap from mtx and sort of put up with it for too long.
I now think if your really feeling like crap admit it and try something else. I really hated MTX. My side effects got worse when combined with my current biologic. Finally I stopped . My new doc was cool with it. My old doc would have made me feel like a rebel with her sighs, and telling me, "This is not normal, side effects worse after two years (eye roll)."

I'm injecting 80ml every Friday - this will be my 3rd week on MTX and it makes Friday's not as much fun as before knowing you're going to spend your evening being dizzy and feeling sick.
The last 2 weeks that ill feeling has gone well into Saturday's as well. Sad that i have to plan my injections when it's more convenient for me to feel sick so I don't miss work.
So far not getting relief from it either... hopefully soon.

I've been on it about 4 months and I feel absolutely nothing. I started Enbrel about 2 months ago and that's helping some. Rheumy says MTX is probably helping but I wouldn't notice it unless I stopped taking it. I'm ok right now with continuing since it doesn't bother me. I inject .6 ml.

I started mtx in 2009 for about 8 months, but my vanity got to me. My thinning hair due to the mtx before I was even 40 was too much to take emotionally. I stopped it and tried Arava, etc for a year. Unfortunately, a year later I had to go back on it. I tolerate it pretty well and have learned to take prenatal vitamins( extra folic acid + other vitamins) to counteract the hair loss. I also rub oil in my hair to add shine & deal with the dryness fr mtx. The prescription folic acid was not effective.

started 9 yrs ago.. used 6 tablets for 3 weeks but had reaction to them. Have been on injectable .8 ml once a week... no side effcets with it..Have been off of it since Aug. due to throat infection, then flu shot, then another infection , and another..Doc said when I go back on it to use .6 ml instead of the 8... I will be going back on it around the 9th of Dec... Have had all kinds of stiffness etc without it...

Just took my second dose of it last night. Taking 10 mgs of it a week along with the folic acid. No issues so far, cross my fingers. Guess I'll have to see how it goes after a few more weeks.

I never could get past the nausea. My Doc switched me to an injection I give myself once a week. I still feel tired for a bit, but no more nausea.

I've been injecting 1ml MTX weekly along with 1mg Folic Acid daily for the last 6 months.

The fatigue is awful. I have it every. single. day. It's worse the couple days after my injection.

Couple weeks ago I came down with a bad cold the day before injection. I decided to skip that week so that I could get over my cold better. This was on a Thursday, by Monday, I felt so good I couldn't believe it. I had energy, was able to keep up with the family while shopping. It felt great! Thursday rolled around, took my injection and now back to the same ole fatigue.

I did some cooking today for Thanksgiving and it wore me out. I only fixed 2 things. It's not like it was hard or anything. *sigh*