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mexotrexate,What can I expect?

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Posted 10/4/2006 9:01 PM (GMT 0)

sad   Hi everyone,

This is my first post. I had juvenile RA when I was 7 years old. The only lasting effects I am aware of is some limited motion in my wrists. I am 42 now. I had no symptoms again until about 5 years ago. I have been on Plaquinil 400mg/day, with very little side effects. I guess I have been in denial about what I have since the Plaquinil worked so well until about 6 months ago when the pain, swelling and fatigue increased. My rheumy has been really pushing for me to go on Mexotrexate injections once per week. But I have been stalling. I have heard that the side effects are terrible. Can anyone tell me what I am in for? Is deformation of joints inevitable?  What are the side effects of Mex? How long can you stay on it? How long has it been on the market? I am really depressing myself by thinking about this. Can anyone tell me the truth?

thanks,

Connie

Posted 10/4/2006 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
hi connie and welcome to healing well.... i am yalinda and i have been on mtx for about 7-8 months now. it has done wonders for me personally with little side effects. i take 8 pills, no shot, 20 mg. my doctor slowly built me up to that dosage to see how i tolerated the med.... at first i had a bit quizzyness a few hours after but that only lasted me a few weeks. i now take it friday night before bed and sleep like a baby. i am tired from it and find my weekends are not as active as i would like them to be but if i push myself to be active i do fine. my hairdresser tells me my hair is thick as ever and i could use some thinning :) i tell her not only my hair needs thinning hehehehe.

when i first was RX the med i went online and found that they have been using mtx since the 1950's to treat RA. my rhuemmy calls it the wonder drug for those who tolerate it. i kinda agree... i am in a much better "place" then i was before. i still am stiff with joint pain, but not worth complaining about. by that i mean i can open containers and hold things again. my wrists fingers were real bad, a true night mare ankles and knees painful.... and now just stiff and sore and i hope that eventually will go too! one can hope you know.

my understanding is that mtx not only helps with pain but also prevention of deformation. on line i read you can be on it for years and i think there have been post of peps on for like 10 years. mind you need to respect the drug... it can do havoc on liver and lungs. No alcohol and get routine blood work. it is not for everyone but it thus far has been great for me! good luck and talk to you soon ~* yalinda
Posted 10/5/2006 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
HI, I use to be on Methotrexate but had to come off of it because there was another med that I needed and the two Methotrexate and Plaqunile don't mix together at all so waying the odd's the metho had to go.

I know this the pill form can cause you to be ill for a day or two and the shot form is so much better and when I was on it I did well and have very little if any side-effect's.
Posted 10/5/2006 12:52 PM (GMT 0)

:-)  Hi again,

Thanks for sharing.  I can see now why I couldn't find much info on my own, as I was spelling it Mexotrexate rather than Methotrexate. I don't have another appointment until the 23rd of Oct. so I still have until then to think about it. I keep hoping my tests will not be that bad and I can get away with going on Salsasalazine instead.

Thanks again

Connie 

   

Posted 10/5/2006 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on injectible MTX (.7 mls = 17.5 mgs, I think) for 2 years (first with Enbrel, now with Remicade). We are upping my dosage in December. It has really helped with my RA (in my hands). Other than some nausea and hair thinning, I really didn't experience much in side effects. We solved that by upping my dosage of prescription strength folic acid. I'm at 2 mgs daily and have been there for 1-1/2 years. If you do decide to do the MTX, you must have a prescription for folic acid. OTC folic is just not strong enough (it's measured in mcg, not mg's) and you'd have to take quite a bit! I inject my MTX right before bedtime, so if I experience anything, I'm already asleep and don't know it!

Also, don't forget the regular blood tests - those are just as important as the folic acid. My rheumy gives me permission to drink - on very special occasions and then it's only a glass of wine, maybe 2. If I want more, then I'm not to take my shot for the week -- so far, I haven't indulged in more than 1 glass of wine and it's quite rare when I have one!! My blood tests have all come back just fine.

Hope this helps and good luck with your decision.
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