Date: 11.03.2011
From: stacey
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Subject: methotrexate
Hi Everyone, im new on here and just wanted abit of advice. im 25 years old and was diganosed with arthritis in october last year. i have swollen fingers on both hands, i have had serveral blood tests and its not showing RA factor but there is sign of inflammation. i work has a dental nurse and i am managing at the moment. im on naproxen and take 1 tablet before i go to bed and i find it really helps im also taking cod liver oil and co-codamol if im in pain. i have been advised by my rheumatologist that i need to go on to long term medication methotrexate. Im not keen on going on this medication the side affects are not good plus i like to have a drink or two on a weekend and i dont have any children yet. i went to see the rheumatology nurse yesterday and decided not to go on to this medication yet. Im going to try some natural remedy first called superflex 3 which is glucosamine, chondroitin & MSM. i just wanted to now what other peoples thoughts or opions are on this? This is all new to me and any advise would be a great help. Thanks Stacey
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Date: 11.03.2011
From: Trace
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Subject: Re: methotrexate
Hiya, as a fellow RA sufferer I have been offered Methotrexate lots of times, but like you I worried about side effects. I have found the answer in Sulphasalazine EC, these give me no bad side effects and really do help my joints. Why not ask your doc about them. Good luck xx
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Date: 11.03.2011
From: Natasha
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Subject: Re: methotrexate
I am also on methotrexate and I worried about the side effects too. That was the main reason I didn't want to go on them. I found the the less of an appetite after about a month. There are some days where I don't/can't eat a thing because I'm so turned off by food. Talk to your doctor if this happens. I asked mine about it and he gave me steriods which is brilliant because I can now eat again.
I'm like you stacey, young and have inflammation. Im 19 and have RA in about 4 joints.
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Date: 12.03.2011
From: stacey
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Subject: Re: methotrexate
thanks for your replies.
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Date: 12.03.2011
From: stacey
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Subject: Re: methotrexate
i will speak the rheumatologist at my next appointment. Sulphasalazine doesnt seem that bad, i wonder why i havent been asked if i want to try something else other that methotrexate.
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Date: 13.03.2011
From: dawn
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Subject: Re: methotrexate
hi, im on methotrexate at the mo and ive decided to come off them i just cant stand the side effects anymore,im also on sulphasalazine 4 a day.its entirely up to you if you want to try them you may find you dont get the side effects everyone is different i hope you find something that works for you.best wishesx
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Date: 13.03.2011
From: sandra
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Subject: Re: methotrexate
hi ive been on mtx for 8 weeks the rheumy nurse told me to stop them last week due to the bad side effects i was getting,going back to rheumy dr next week dnt know what i can try now,sulphasalazine also made me quite ill
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Date: 15.03.2011
From: Pat b
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Subject: Re: methotrexate
I was put on methotrexate when first diagnosed in 2005 but they aggrevate my lung condition (I also have bronchiectasis) so they switched me to Sulphasalazene. I was never very well on methotrexate, don't know if it was just because both of my illnesses were new but once they switched me I was much better. PLUS if you do have a drink you get so drunk so quick and really sick. Imagine your worst every hangover and multiply it by 10. Not good.
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Date: 15.03.2011
From: Paula
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Subject: Re: methotrexate
I'm taking sulphasalazine (6 a day) and 20mg of MTX once a week. I can honestly say that I have had no side effects at from either. Everyone is different to how they react to drugs. I also have the occasional drink.
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Date: 16.03.2011
From: bsk
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Subject: Re: methotrexate
Hi Stacey, just be aware that with alternative treatments you can sometimes feel better but the damage to your joints continue. I met someone last week who is on alternative meds, he feels well but his joints are completely deformed. That is one of the reasons that they put you on the Dmards. To prevent joint damage. Also, it has been shown that glucosamine and chondrotin are ineffective for inflammatory arthritis.
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Date: 16.03.2011
From: carole
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Subject: Re: methotrexate
hi stacey , ive been on Mtx for nearly a yr now and so far so good no side effects other than feeling rough the day after i take it ,but i couldnt take sulphasalazine as i had so many side effects, so i think its trial and error as to which suits u, best of luck
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Date: 16.03.2011
From: nicola
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Subject: Re: methotrexate
Hi Stacey,
there's a fairly recent thread with lots of advice and info, think it's called "sulphasalazine or methotrexate" it should be a few pages back and it helped me out a lot in january when i was in your shoes. There's lots of people who use this forum who have had the exact same dilemma. I was diagnosed with RA in July, 5 months after having a baby. I started on sulphasalazine, steroids and hydroxychloroquine which have helped but certainly didn't clear things up. I was determined not to take mtx for exactly the same reasons as you but I started it 7 weeks ago as I wasn't getting better on the other drugs.
I was taking loads of vitamins, anti-oxidants and omega 3's, and unfortunately they made no difference. However, after 7 weeks, ive had no nasty side effects, my symptoms aren't any better but I don't expect them to be for a while yet. I get bloods done weekly and my results have been fine, despite often having more than my allowed quota of sav blanc!!I'm 32 and a physiotherapist and have a (v heavy and wriggly) 13 month old boy .......... and I want to enjoy being a mum and a physio and being 32 - when my RA is bad, I'm bloody miserable, so I'm taking the nasty stuff, and it's not actually too nasty... and i dont get any drunker any more quickly and certainly dont have any worse a hangover when i drink - to be honest it makes zero difference, and wine still tastes as good!
Talk to your rheum nurse and people on this forum and do what's right for you.
And good luck
Take careNic
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Date: 21.03.2011
From: Sandra
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Subject: Re: methotrexate
Hi Nic
I'm starting Mxt tonight - so good to hear from someone who hasn't had too many problems with it and who can still drink afew wines as well! I am a bit worried about it and it's made worse when you read all these "bad" stories...I shall think of you as I have these pills and hope that I too don't suffer too much! I especially like "..it's not actually too nasty... and i dont get any drunker any more quickly and certainly dont have any worse a hangover when i drink - to be honest it makes zero difference, and wine still tastes as good!" Hurray!Now I feel a bit better....there is some hope then afterall! Let's see what happens....
All the best Sandra
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Date: 21.03.2011
From: nicola
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Subject: Re: methotrexate
there is hope sandra!! i just took week 9's dose of the crystal meth (as it gets called in my house) I do seem to have a lot more hair at the bottom of the shower nowadays but i just dont wash or brush it as often and in the hope that it'll cause less stress to those wee follicles and they'll hang on a while longer. Ironically i feel most hungover the day after i take the meth but my logic for taking it on a monday was quite strategic.... i figured that any side effects or nausea i did have should have worn off by the weekend, and i get my bloods done every friday so that if i do have a few glasses of sav blanc on a friday, then my liver has 5 days to recover before it hets checked again. my ALT (the important liver enzyme where alcohol and meth is concerned) has never gone above 16, and alarm bells dont start to ring until it hits 40... in fact, mine has gone down every week. I havent been out on a big session but i've had a few weeks where i've maybe a couple of nights of 3 glasses of plonk and i havent felt any worse than i think i should.
I'm sure that alcohol consumption seems a very petty thing for some people or that i shouldnt be drinking anyway but i'm so bloody angry at having RA that i'm determined not to let it have any more of an impact on my lifestyle than it has to.
I'm young... well nearly 33, and enjoy going out and having fun (on the few rare occasions when we can get a babysitter) and i'm not about to give up my only vice.
I'm still needing steroids to be able to do everything i need to pain-free but hopefully in another 9 weeks, the meth will be working and I'll feel like the old me pre-RA and i'll be off the roids.
Really hope it goes ok for you and hopefully by summer, we're both feeling a lot better and able to enjoy swilling a few glasses of rose in the sun!
Take care!
nic
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Date: 23.03.2011
From: Rachel
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Subject: Re: methotrexate
Hi, I just wanted to say that after having an awful reaction to sulphsalazine I'm now on week 14 of methotrexate for RA, I'm starting to feel like I've turned a corner, I've noticed I'm not taking as many painkillers and have started sleeping through the night more often (which hasn't happened for at least a year!). I haven't had any major side effects other than feeling wiped out for a couple of days after taking it but even that is improving. Everyone reacts differently to these drugs and you won't know unless you give it a go. Just don't expect miracles overnight (like I said I'm on week 14 and seeing gradual improvements) Goodluck!
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