forgive me, Im unclear, were u swollen (hands knees) prior to taking the medication? or did u swell up after? hurts when u swallow, as in your throat is inflamed? this maybe a side effect-or it could be a reaction- call your pharmacist pronto before taking another dose, it is better to err on the side of caution when it comes to your health, not trying to scare u- but I am trying to alert u, best of luck

My gut says the swallowing is not related. Never heard of that before.

MTX is a great drug. I've been on it since 1992. What dose are you taking?

Most rheumatologist would put you on prednisone until the MTX starts to work and not leave you in pain for 6 weeks.

Agree with Lynn that swallowing is likely unrelated, but I would let your doc know. Does it hurt like a sore throat, or is it difficult to swallow? If the later, it could be Sjogrens Syndrome. Difficulty swallowing my first indication. I couldn't eat! Lost a good amount of weight. Lives on a liquid diet.

I am taking 6 tablets 2.5mg 1 day a week, I had to have small surgery in sept was just cleared to start Methatrexate, throats feels irritated but hurts when I swallow mostly, it started after talking Methatrexate. Fingers have been swollen off and on since diagnosed but consistently the past 2-3 weeks. Knees have just started this week and getting worse can barely walk down stairs, my bedroom is upstairs. I am calling doctor in morning

Hi I took methotrexate about 4 years ago before I started rituxan infusions. I have dermatomyositis. The first day I took 6 pills that night I woke up with horrible mouth sores and throat hurt so bad I couldn't swallow my own saliva. I called my RA doc and she told me to take folic acid I took 3 800mcg pills within 30 minutes I'm not kidding it was all gone. Now I take folic everyday and I'm on prednisone daily I also take biotin 10000mcg . If you haven't beend told to take folic acid that you can buy at any store then you should your body naturally produces it but with med's especially methotrexate I was told to take it. It worked and also because now I have rituxan chemotherapy infusions I still take it t9 counter side effects. God bless
Kimberly

Hello I called rheumatologist this morning she wants me to stop taking it and I have an appointment already set up on oct 19. She said she will see me then. She said if I have any more swelling then go to emergency room. Yes I have been taking Folic Acid everyday since I started Methatrexate

Sorry she wants me to stop taking Methatrexate

I took did stop taking it first orally then injecting mostly because my disease was drug resistant to it. The only thing helping me was prednisone but when I started rituxan 3 years ago what a difference. I am able to walk climb stairs get out of a chair and very embarrassing off the toilet even with a raised toilet seat. I'm sorry methotrexate had horrible side effects for you. I had quite a few also. My RA Level was so high and my CPK was 17000. Now I'm in normal ranges. I wish you all the best. It's no picnic but keep smiling and positive. God bless.
Kimberly

HINT - taking MTS by injection avoids many of the side effects.

I was thinking about this post, and one thing you should be very careful of is that it might be an RA nodule in your throat. If going off the mthx doesn't help, and it gets harder to breathe, go to the ER.

My cousin and I both have had this, I was off my meds for surgery, and she was not talking any meds, because her disease was mostly stable. She is tiny, having had her growth stunted by prednisone use as a child for her RA. The nodule got so big she stopped breathing and died. Fortunately, she was in the ER, they revived her and put a trache in her throat which is now permanent.

I had great difficulty breathing, but by then I was back on my meds and it stopped the growth of the nodule. However, it damaged my voice, I was not able to talk at all for months, and it ruined my singing voice around the A and B in the middle of the staff. I have been a professional singer, so this was very hard on me. In addition, because I take cortisone inhalers, the cortisone landed on the nodule and I got a yeast infection on the nodule. The ENT thought it was throat cancer, although I have no risk factors. I MADE him give me Nystatin, and it cleared up before the return visit to have throat surgery. That was dodging a big bullet!

Anyway, the point being is that it could be coincidence that the throat problems started at the same time as the mthx. I hope that was the problem, but throat issues are nothing to fool around with.