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Folic and methotrexate

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 1/13/2016 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
So much sharing here. Awesome! Got meds for RA but couldn't start because I supposedly had an UTI. Ready to start. Confused. When do I take folic in regards to methotrexate (MTX)? Before, after, or with? Should I lie down a bit after my dosage? I'm prescribed 4 pills weekly (2.5mg) and folic (1mg) everyday. I've read that a lot of people take the MTX at night, but I also take zolpidem for sleep. Anyone taking zolpidem?
Posted 1/14/2016 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
I take my folic acid in the morning with my other meds, hasn't bothered me any. I take the methotrexate (8 tablets) first thing Saturday morning, for me it takes until Sunday for it to really hit so I don't want to take it Saturday night and I don't take it Friday because I want at least one of my weekend nights to be "normal" sort of. I take clonazepam for sleep, on Methotrexate day I don't usually need it. Switching to injections this week so that will change and it will be another learning curve!
Posted 1/15/2016 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Mama G and welcome to the HW forum. Hope the RA meds help alleviate your pain once you are able to start. I use to take my 7 pills of methotrexate on a Wed evening because I inject enbril on Sat and wanted to space the two apart. Folic acid with morning meds daily, same as ginger. I never really had any side effects fro mtx, but unfortunately not any effects either, so I quit taking it.
Wishing you better luck than me with mtx!
Beth
Posted 1/15/2016 5:40 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Ginger and Celebrate Life!
Posted 1/15/2016 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome aboard! I was tiold that on the day I take MTX not to take my folic acid as it will counteract it. Not sure if anyone else has had those instructions as well but I have been doing it that way for a long time now.

My body has adjusted somewhat to the MTX as well and I don't go through near the level of fatigue I had the first year I started it.

I hope it works for you and helps to give you some relief. -Don
Posted 1/15/2016 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
When I was on mtx it was injectible it's scary at first but you get used to it. I did the folic acid in the mornings every day and then Mondays was my mtx day and I would inject after lunch, helps to have food in the stomach...so gives the folic acid a few hours to work as well and to counter the side effects, the folic acid helps counter the hair loss, didn't make it go away but helped with it...
Posted 1/16/2016 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hi you take folic acid on days Not when you take Methotrexate (MTX) ( as long as this is what your Doctor has told you) I was told Not to take it on same day as it counteracts MTX
I take my MTX on Monday night with dinner 15mg Always take it with food or it can give you a bad tummy upset I now use Leucovorin instead of Folic Acid (its the same but a bit stronger) I had a lot of problems with my hair falling out so he changed me from 5mg of folic acid daily(except Monday) to the Leucovorin which I take only once a week but on the day After MTX
main thing to remember EAT
Posted 1/31/2016 7:53 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Mama G for starting this discussion. I was just diagnosed last week with Ra and Crohns. MTX and folic as well. Started last night. I took both at the same time as I was unsure of times to take. I saw posts on taking MTX in the evening around meal time and so gave it a go. I took at 8:30 as had a late dinner 7:00. Up now at 3:00 with upset stomach. From posts on this forum seeing that I should maybe take the folic at a different time. So will try that in future....My dr prescribed folic 1 x daily. MTX 6 tabs 1x a week. No sleeping aids for me though so unable to help there.
Thnx everyone for insight.
Posted 2/3/2016 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
I take Methotrexate (8 tablets) on Saturdays and I take Folic Acid every morning.  I take Embrel on Sundays.  So far I haven't had any issues.
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