HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

how do you feel after methotrexate injections?

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/22/2009 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
Past few injections I've gotten pretty nauseous within two hours and a bad headache the day after. I know people who take the pill form experience these side effects, but I thought the injection form would minimize this. I'm just trying to get a feel for what are typical side effects versus something more serious that I need to call the doctor about.
Posted 2/23/2009 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
All Crohn's medications are for SEVERE diseases. I can definately say (from personal experience as well) that MTX is safer than the biologics. MTX has almost zero chance of causing a neurological problem or brain infection whereas the biologics have a much higher risk. A lot of the recent studies also say that for Crohn's disease liver damage is not so much of an issue. The liver problems are for the psoriasis patients... (if that was what was on your mind). Lymphomas are also a concern for the biologics, not for MTX.
Posted 2/23/2009 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
Methotrexate is an anti-folate so it is not like 6-MP or Imuran (both of which I tried and eventually they became less effective). Although it is metabolized differently, I would imagine that as an immunosuppressant it would affect your white blood cell count to an extent. I would ask your doctor more specifically about this.

I'm pretty sure you cannot take Pentasa along with Methotrexate. Also, it wouldn't help in anyway, MTX is strong enough on its own. So to answer your question, yes it can induce and maintain remission. I've been on it for almost two years and its worked better than the Remicade Imuran combo I was on.
Posted 2/23/2009 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
I take mtx tablets. They are very effective for me-got me off prednisone. What I suggest for the side effects is more folic acid-and if you have malabsorption issues then take your folic acid sublingually. I take 3 mgs per day. I upped my own dose after having a bad reaction to the mtx but when I told my doctor what I had done she wrote a script for the higher dose and told me it was a good idea.
I have had no problems with the mtx since then.
Also drink a ton of water for the twelve hours before and the twenty four hours after your dose.
Posted 2/23/2009 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
The water helps you to process and eliminate the mtx and helps prevent the fatigue the drug can cause.
The methotrexate got me off prednisone. I am doing really well. My doc is thinking of upping my dose from 15mgs to 20mgs because I tend to have 8-10 weeks of awesome followed by 3-4 weeks of awefull.
Sj
Posted 2/23/2009 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Kasper, you know the only thing that has even remotely helped me is MTX injections.
I usually inject my folic acid. Or take 5 MG sublingual.
Posted 2/23/2009 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
Oral dose is once a week.
Posted 2/23/2009 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hasn't seemed to do much for me, I think 6MP was more effective, but I don't see why you wouldn't try it. The pills can be harsh on the gut, I would suggest the needle.
Posted 2/23/2009 1:05 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry I missed you Kasper. I think exhausting every option before you move on to experimental stuff is a logical plan. I could not keep down pills to reach a theraputic level (they were daily for me), so I had to go with 25 mg shot and it took about 3-6 months to half my symptoms. You do not risk lupus or brain inflections with mtx. I take very good care of my liver (so no drinking and limit tylenol). I need to drink about a gallon of water a day to help with the headaches that I get (they were my first symptom of crohns). But bear in mind I am a much larger person.
Posted 2/25/2009 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
I took mtx for a total of about 20 weeks. I had to take a month long break after 10 weeks for gall bladder surgery. I was taking 15mg a week. At first I did ok except for mild nausea the next day so I gradually upped my folic acid until I was eventually taking 4 mg a day. After I had the surgery I went back on mtx and once again, did ok, starting out with 4 mg folic acid. I no longer had the feeling of malaise that I complain about (probably my worst sympton since my gut seems to be doing well on pentasa) and I felt my gut was even better, but it had done nothing for my joints. Perhaps I wasn't on it long enough for that. Then after the holidays I started noticing the day after I took the pills I felt awful, like I was coming down with the flu. Chills, headache, nausea. I called my doctor and he said to stop taking it. My blood work was always ok during this period.
Posted 3/5/2009 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
cbk has your cosultant not prescribed folic acid i take mine 2x weekly to cut down the side effects at 1st i was on injections but i asked them to put me back onto oral methotrexate i dont have any problems at all with side effects even when i was on injections it works for me i have now been admitted in over 2 years now thank god i hate the place lol!
Dont get me wrong i still suffer from relapses but not eough to be admitted my consultant just prescribes steroids then if that fails then its off to the hospital but up to now the steroids have always worked for me!

i dont think theres any drug us chronnies are prescribed that does not have side effects unfortunately!just perserve and ask for folic acid take care x
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply