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Methotrexate question..

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 9/23/2008 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
Had my first injection this morning. Do most people take an anti-nausea med as a precaution or only if you become nauseated? I was prescibed Ondansetron and took two before and two 8 hours later. Can take 2 more after another 8 hours but will probably be in bed by that time. If I haven't had any nausea yet, is it possible I might still? Nurse said I could use Gravol but GI strongly recommended the Odansetron. The nurse that gave the shot never heard of it. Will see how it goes, I guess.
Posted 9/23/2008 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
I get my first shot tomorrow morning at 10am. I'll let you know how things go for me.
At the Chemo Orientation the nurse explained that I probably would not have side effects. So, I'm going to hope...

I was supposed to have my first MTX shot on Friday after the orientation, but Hubby and I were going out of town and both of us didn't want to not only ruin the weekend away if I felt terrible, but mainly we didn't want me to have problems during a weekend and away from home and my familiar doctors.

I may have some phenergen left over. I will probably ask for a current Rx to have on hand, just in case. I'll let you know what they give me (if it is different from phenergen) and how it works, if I need it.
Posted 9/23/2008 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
I find methotrexate to be a funny drug. Some weeks I'm fine with it, and others... *bam* I feel as if I've been hit with a sledge-hammer.

Me, I'd hold off on the anti-nausea meds until I actually felt something. You may not get queasy, anyway. For me, the biggest side effect is extreme fatigue, and another person here gets terrible headaches with it. And, as I've said, there are others who have few problems at all.

Best wishes,

Ivy.
Posted 9/23/2008 4:14 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Bammer,

I am on the oral dose of MTX and I am considering requesting something for the nauseau AND maybe switching to the injection--I am now taking 25 mg a week and that is a bit much orally, I think.

My nauseau seems to hit a few hours after the dose and then again a day or two later.  The fatigue seems to set in about that time as well.

You prob know this already, but just in case, be sure you are taking folic acid with the MTX. 

Best of luck and take care!

Posted 9/23/2008 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
ps. In terms of timing the med, I got some really good advice from the people here when I first started taking mtx:

1. If you have some control over when you take the med, take it at night so you can sleep through the initial side-effects
2. If you work, give yourself the injection late in the week so you don't have to deal with the side-effects on a workiing day. Similarly, if you play weekend sport, you might be better injecting yourself *after* you've done your training and played the week's match. Always factor in a couple of down-days with this medication.

I.
Posted 9/23/2008 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
I had my first MTX shot today.  So far, so good.  No arm soreness at all. 

I felt fine all day and when the husband came home I helped him fix the riding mower (I was the gopher for tools) and then mowed the back yard.  Afterwards, I thought I'd ride the horse, but as I was getting my riding clothes together, I realized I was feeling "off", so I scratched riding and went to town to p/u the anit-nausea Rx. 

I didn't know if I was getting sick, but I had that sort of 'funny' feeling and felt I'd better head-it-off and took a pill.  That was an hour ago and I'm feeling pretty good now.  Husband has an afternoon Dr appt tomorrow so maybe I'll ride Thursday afternoon.

I started taking big doses of folic acid almost two weeks ago, preparing for MTX.

h

Posted 9/24/2008 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
I never noticed any nausea with MTX shots. But, I was only on it about 2 months. I didn't really notice much from it at all... good luck!
Posted 9/24/2008 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
I was on methotrexate injections for a long time and had nausea after every shot. It was not immediately, but usually about 8 hours later and through the next day or so. My Rhuemy made me give myself my injections on Friday so that I would have the weekend to recover. It also depends on the dose, because when my dose was increased my nausea followed. The folic acid was really the answer to avoid the majority of the side effects. It blows me away that the nurse told 78SilvAnniv that she would probably not have any side effects. I am not trying to be negative, but this is really giving people false information. Methotrexate did give me some relief from my Crohn's disease, but of all the medications that I have used, it was by far the worst for side effects.
Posted 9/25/2008 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
The only side effect I have had is constipation and with a stricture in the colon, bowel movements are not that good at the best of times. I read that this could be a side effect of the Ondansetron so may reduce the dosage next injection or wait and see if the nausea hits. My Step-mother just gave me a stool softener which I might take before I go to bed but have never taken one of these before. It certainly hasn't made me fatiqued nor has the Crohn's even though last blood work showed slight anemia. I was hoping to get a good night's sleep after the injection but that hasn't happened and will have to work on that. Don't want to complain. Even went golfing next day to get some exercise and fresh air.
Now I have to decide whether my husband or I can me me the injections as it is a little inconvenient to go to the clinic and had to wait for the nurse last time. GI gave me a prescription for 5mg. folic acid daily.
Thank you everyone for the info.
Posted 9/25/2008 4:36 AM (GMT 0)
about 2hrs after I took the anti-nausea pill Tuesday evening my eyelids were falling down. I went to bed waaay early (10pm) for me. Woke up early on Wednesday, too. No nausea, feeling fine. Had only ONE bowel movement!
I was pretty happy about that.
Husband's Dr appointment ran late, no lunch until almost 4:30pm so when we got home I layed down for a snooze and missed out on riding the horse. Plan to ride Th. evening.
Heidi
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