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Posted 8/2/2010 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Everything has been approved and methotrexate injections start Friday. I have to admit that I am scared out of my mind. The pred is not working at all... my joints are severely swollen and I am still having bad D too many times to count...but kinda scared of this process.

Those who have the injection.. any advice, tips, anything?

Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive through this... I can't believe they finally said yes.
Posted 8/2/2010 10:13 PM (GMT 0)
Try looking in the "medications" link in my sig. I know it's old and the formatting's a bit wonky, and some of the links don't work anymore, but there's some good Methotrexate advice in there, as long as the links work.

Ivy.
Posted 8/2/2010 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Ivy... the metho link didn't work.. but I will keep searching...that is a wonderful resource of so many medications though.
Posted 8/2/2010 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, bummer!

So you'll be getting injections, then?

OK. If you have any choice, schedule them for a time where you can count on having a few quieter days. You said you were getting yours on Friday, and that's a great choice if you have to work Mon-Fri, because it gives you an option of resting on the weekend if you have to, without losing work days.

I found it helpful to have my major household tasks done by Thursday night, and would schedule quieter jobs (e.g. paperwork) for Saturday.

It can be a great med, especially if you have arthritic complications, but please don't be surprised if you feel absolutely terrible after your first few injections. I found that it did get a bit easier with time, but the first few were always very rough. Don't let that put you off, though, because mtx can work wonders, and I always found that the benefits were worth the side-effects.

I hope this helps.

Who will be giving you the injection?

Ivy.
Posted 8/2/2010 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
right now I am on disability but I did think having it before the weekend would be a good idea so the family is home with me...
n y
The nurse is giving it to me in the hopes that they can train me or my hubby.. I am deathly afraid of needles.. so not sure I will be able to do it. I have been watching youtube videos on it.. LOL.. I am that scared.

Thanks for the advice Ivy.. I definitely have arthritic complications.. I heard it takes a couple of months for benefits? Do you take Folic Acid, they mayo wants me to take 1mg daily.. should I start that now? I completely forgot about that.
Posted 8/2/2010 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
You might notices changes sooner than that, June. I hope so.

It'd probably be a good idea to start the folic acid at least a day or two before the injection. You might want to check whether you're supposed to take it on the day of injection itself: doctors can have competing ideas on that issue.

It'd be a good idea to drink lots of water the day before each injection, and you also might like to make sure you have mint / ginger tea etc in the house, just in case you get queasy. Oh, and I reckon you should get yourself a video too, as a reward for taking this huge new step :-).
Posted 8/2/2010 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Ivy... the nurse said there was methotrexate with preservatives and one without preservatives.. does it matter?
Posted 8/3/2010 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
I hope it goes well!

The Mayo Clinic offers detailed info about methotrexate here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR600919

Seems your doc should advise you about the preservative-free vs with preservative. 

Posted 8/3/2010 12:34 PM (GMT 0)
My doc is clueless about any of this which is why he has made me wait so long... so between him and insurance this process got alot longer. He is very uncomfortable with this drug and has never used it for crohn's. The nurse has done most of the research for him and she wasn't sure either. I will try and put a call into the mayo today and see what their recommendation is. I did some browsing here and found some on the preservative free had less side effects...

thanks for the mayo link!
Posted 8/3/2010 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
MMMNavy is one who uses this med with some success. I have heard that the injections are much better than the pills, as the injections have less side effects. I have also heard you will feel a little tired and yucky for a day or two, but then it gets better. Definetely get on that Folic Acid asap, you need it while on this med. Good luck!
Posted 8/3/2010 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, the mtx injection are the only thing that even remotely worked for me. I spend about 2 years on 25mg, and have gone down to 15mg now. MTX injections have been approved by the FDA since 1988 for the treatment of crohns, so it is an old med. I actually take folic acid injection every day, because I have a tendency to throw up oral meds. You might get a yellow spot at the injection site, it looks like someone took a highlighter to your belly. It took almost 3 months for me really to start feeling a difference. My doctor does blood tests, especially a liver panel, every month.  But for me after trying all the oral meds, remi, and humira, this has by far worked the best for me.  You might feel a little nausea, and a bit tired (like I do a movie marathon the day after my injection so I can just comfy sleep and rest), but it really is not too bad at all.  Just rest and take it easy.  Have simple safe foods for you to eat.
Posted 8/3/2010 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
So you get your shots in the belly? I am so squeamish about injections...
I have read this is an old med but my doctor has never used it .. doesn't like it.. doesn't feel comfortable with it.. I think between the mayo and me, we forced his hand.
thanks so much!
Posted 8/3/2010 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
I do, mtx gets a bad rap because it was originally marketed as a cancer med. Like I said for me this was the only drug that has even remotely worked. But it does sometimes make me a little tired and sick feeling for a day or so after the injection.

So back to the shots in the belly. Basically take a little roll of fat (but you really do not even need to do that) and inject there. They use this little tiny itty bitty needle, and it is not a particularly painful med to have injected. So the injection part not bad at all, remi and humira are more painful.

 

Posted 8/3/2010 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
OK.. breathing a bit easier now...I thought it was the thigh... do you do the shots yourself? They asked me if I wanted my hubby to do them or if I was willing but like I said.. I am way squeamish.. maybe after I experience it I will feel differently..

I am hoping for some relief down the road.. no other medications have worked ...or if they did I reacted badly...so heres hoping.
Posted 8/3/2010 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
I have some damage to my hands that does not always allow me to give myself injections, so I have the nurse do it anytime I do not feel up to it.
Posted 8/3/2010 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
I LOVE my MTX! only thing that has worked for me :)

I highly recommend the daily Folic Acid and being extremely hydrated the day before, day of an day after - seems to make a really big difference if you are not - at least to me.

Plan to take it right before you go to bed and plan to take it easy the next day - those are my experiences :)

I take the Preservative FREE version and have less reactions (nausea, headache, etc) than the version with the perservatives......
Posted 8/3/2010 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
you guys are giving me hope =)

ok... drink lots.. folic acid..rest after shot..I am going up to the doctors office and than hubby will be bringing me back to rest...

karasmommy.. do you do the shot yourself? Thanks for the insights....it is really helping...
Posted 8/3/2010 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
I also use the preservative free one.

I will say that you will probably not feel any different (I should say more tired) until the next day, and being hydrated is always a good idea.

The syringe that I use is very tiny, I think it is the diabetic needle. Litterly you can inject it with one hand.
Posted 8/4/2010 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
I was on methotrexate for about 8 months. I hated every injection from the first to the very last one. It was sort of a last resort since humira, cimzia, remicade, pentasa, 6mp, apriso, colazol and all the foams and suppositories did not work. I am now currently on azapriothine and alopurinol. My first few injections were horrible. My body just didnt tolerate the medication at all. I ran high fever, was neaseated, had a massive headache and all i wanted to do was sleep. I also got those yellow spots on my belly after the injection. I had my doc do my injections b/c I am squeamish myself and couldn't inject myself. I would highly recommend drinking lots of water the day before, the day of and the day after. Also try to inject yourself when you do not need to do anything productive for at least a day. I had to split my injections up into one injection twice a week. Same dose of 25 miligrams just split between two days. Usually did it on a tues and thurs. A lot of people swear by this drug and for some it's their miracle drug but just wasn't for me at all. By all means if nothing is working for you, try it. This could be your miracle drug. Hope it works and you feel better. :)
Posted 8/4/2010 12:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hey junerainbow,
i started mtx last week, and was really beat the following day. 2nd injection tomorrow, and a bit nervous about the whole thing, too. Every other med available for Crohn's has not worked for me, either major side effects, or just didn't work. i am hopeful. 25+ years with Crohn's, and in the worst flare ever.
It is great to hear that it has worked for many on here. Good to see the suggestdions of hydrating, i did feel quite dehydrated for days after first injection, no matter how much water i drank. Will hydrate with lots of water today.
Posted 8/4/2010 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
The mtx is the only thing that helped my arthritis, but I had to stop it because it raised my liver enzymes too high.  We started with the pills and they hurt my stomach so we switched to injections.  They helped within a week or so of starting them.  I got the kind with preservatives because otherwise, you have to throw the rest of the vial away each time you use it and that was just a waste of money to me.  The vials with preservatives last for 28 days.  I gave myself the injections (was never taught how but it's easy) and always did it in my legs.  I never had any injection site reactions, fatigue, nausea or anything else.  No side effects except for elevated liver enzymes (but most meds do that to me).  I also took folic acid daily and just started it when I started the mtx (but took it every day).  I hope it works for you as well as it worked for me but that it doesn't mess up your enzymes.  I was in tears when I found out that I had to stop taking it. 

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