Methotrexate injections

I'm not on Metho but I would'nt worry about all of the side effects, every drug has to list them even if one person has a reaction. there are several people here that use Metho and they currently don't have any problems. I'm sure someone will come along soon that is on Metho and ease your mind. I did have surgery in Feb 09. It wasn't that bad and i only missed 2 1/2 weeks of work and I do physical work. My boss gave me a job for 2 weeks with very little lifting.
Don't fear the knife!
I hope Metho works for you.

Yup this is my 8th year on methotrexate!! Tablets for 7 years then switched to injections.

When I first started on it I got gradually better over around a 3 month period which is about right - it is not an instant fix.

I found the first month taking it (tablet form) I was quite side-effecty but they weren't unbearable side-effects - nausea, light-headedness, visual disturbances and tiredness, these lasted a day maybe a day and a half after taking. But after a month things were much better, I'd take the dose last thing at night before I went to sleep so I'd sleep through the majority of side-effects and Stemetil worked wonders for the nausea - I could still function fine go to work etc and whats one day of nausea/side effects a week compared to a Crohn's flare?

Apparently the injections cause less side-effects like nausea as its not digested, can't say I've noticed a huge difference but the side-effects never bothered me anyway. Methotrexate has kept me in remission for up to three years at a time, my liver functions still perfect and I get to live life almost completely normally. I can't stand when people bash methotrexate I love love love it! The little risks are totally worth it in my opinion for the happy years I've had on it!

I've been on Metho for the last 4 months, 1 injection every week. All other meds have failed, and this one hasn't helped my Crohns either...but I haven't had any side effects from it. 

I'm on both Remicade and Methotrexate, so I can't tell you for sure when the Methotrexate kicked in. I'm pretty sure it was the Remicade that helped at first. I do weekly injections, and honestly the only side effect that I've noticed was that I'm losing a bit more hair every day. Thankfully it's not enough that you can tell, since I do have a thick head of hair, but it was a little worrisome at first. That started happening about 3 months after I started, so maybe that's about the time that it would kick in? Good luck, I hope it works for you.

Hi, my 14 year old daughter was on Methotrexate when she was first diagnosed. She took it orally for 6 months and did ok. Then she began to throw up every time she took it. We then switched to injections which was just as bad. She threw up every time and was weak and sick all weekend. We finally stopped it.

Thats great! I remember being so nervous before I first injected but like you said - nothing to it really! Just find it stings a little bit.

I have been doing MTX Injections weekly since July'09 - I take my inection right before I go to bed - at first it made me nauseated, would get a headache for a few days, and just felt generally crappy for a few days after taking it.

(I also have Lupus so my rheumy and GI both agreed on this). 

After speaking with my Rheumy about the side effects I was having after starting the MTX she gave me some wonderful tips that have done WONDERS on feeling so much better are as follows:

- Drink plenty of water/fluids the day before and day of taking your dosage.  Hydration is extremely important (I have learned the hard way when having a "bad bathroom" day the day I take the shot, that when not hydrated - my symptons of nausea and vomiting will show up within a few hours of taking the shot)  The reason being the hydration seems to move the medicine flowing through your liver & kidneys to help disperse it and keeps the side effects away.  If I am feeling dehydrated I drink some gatorade that day to make sure I am hydrated.

- Take FOLIC Acid on a daily basis - I take Folinc Acid 1600mg/day, and the day of the shot I take a DOUBLE DOSE of folic acid.  It makes a HUGE difference of how I feel overnight and the next morning.  Methotrexate depletes your body of Folic Acid which is needed for your brain, etc.  Honestly if I have a quesy feeling in my stomach, taking my dose of Folic acid is enough to settle it.  My GI never mentioned the folic acid to me - my Rheumy said it is necessary for anyone taking MTX - ask your GI if you have questions - do research and you will find how highly it is recommended for those who take MTX, espeically those who have RA or Lupus.

- Take the shot and then go to bed ASAP. 

- if you are going to have a drink of alchohol, do NOT do it the same day taking the injection/pills. 

- I also NOW take the Preservative Free MTX - which made a big difference also in how I felt - I am extremely sensitive to Preservatives and Fillers - I can't take a lot of generic's due to the fillers.

My side effects have pretty much disappeared as long as I follow all of the above tips.  I was loosing a lot of hair, and now after 6 months on it, I have definitely slowed down in the amount that I was loosing. 

It took me about 6 weeks to notice the difference it was making on my Lupus symptoms (i.e. joint pain, swelling of my joints, exhaustion and sun sensitivity) and about 3 months before it kicked in for the Crohn's Disease (bathroom trips, bleeding, etc.)

But I really LOVE, LOVE my MTX, It has allowed me to have the freedom of actually going up and down the steps again - where for the past 3 years I couldn't do any type of stairs - had to move to a ranch house @ 32 years old, not having swollen joints and just actually able to function like what feels like a normal person. 

I was deathly afraid of taking it at first and it still really bothers me to put it into my body, but that is just my personal issue - getting better at being at peace with myself over it.