HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

anyone on methotrexate injections?

Support Forums
>
Lupus
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/13/2008 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi-I'm going to be starting Methotrexae injections because my current 20 mg of Meth isn't working as well for me as we thought it would.  Just wanted to know if anyone else is on this and what the deal is.  I should have asked the nurse-I'll find out at the appointment, but just to mentally prepare myself I was wondering where the injections go.  My hubby and I have a bet on which part of my body I will be injecting.  Also, since I am currently taking 20mg of Meth pills weekly, I was wondering if the side effects of this are different or if they will be less than with pills.  Mainly the meds are being switched because of the extreme fatigue I've been feeling and the Meth isn't taking care of this very well yet.  I've been on it for 5 months now.

 

Any info. will be helpful to me.  Thanks!

Posted 4/13/2008 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
If you don't get many responses to this you might want to check some of the open threads on the RA board we discuss mtx all the time and some of people over there are on the injections. I just started the oral med and have no experience with the injections but generally people choose the injections because of fewer GI side effects or becasue like you they are over 20mgs. I believe they are rotated between belly and thigh but hopefully someone will give you a more definitive answer.
Sj
Posted 4/14/2008 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
I think they are usually in the butt - or maybe in the large hip muscle. But as I'm not on MTX I could be wrong.... What do I get if I win the bet??? lol Cheers,
Posted 4/14/2008 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hmm...I got curious and looked it up-a large muscle so yep hip or butt sounds likely
Posted 4/14/2008 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
Firebabe,

I have been giving myself methotrexate injections for a while now and it is not bad at all. I was having stomach problems with the pills and the shots have helped a lot. The nurse did my first injection, and showed me how to do it and where to give myself the shot. I give the shot in my stomach area, I just pinch the skin and inject where I pinch. The first time I did it by myself it was hard to do, but now It is easy.

I have had way better results with the injections and I hope you do to!

KarenO
Posted 4/14/2008 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Firebabe, I have been giving myself meth. injections for the past 8 months now. Just like Karen O., I give them to myself in my stomach area. For some reason, I can "stabbed" myself with the needle so I just slowly insert the needle into the pinched area. I am very used to giving myself needles now. I also give myself injections of Enbrel in my thighs which is even easier than the mtx. injections. At first the nurses or doctors say that if you significant other learns how to do these injections then you can also do them in the back of your arm or your bum. Personally, I just found it easier to do them myself.

Hopefully all goes well for you.

The Beginner
Posted 4/15/2008 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks to everybody who answered my questions.  I feel better about this now.  I have been having somewhat of a stomach reaction to the Meth. pills, so hopefully the injections will help.  It would be great to not have an "explosion" everytime I take the pills.  Ha.
Posted 4/15/2008 6:57 AM (GMT 0)
I swapped to injections after a while because my stomach couldn't take it anymore. Went from 6 pills to .6 cc.

My hubby gives me my shot in the arm or hip if he's home, if it's me I go for the thigh.

The injections are SO much better to deal with than the pills!
Posted 4/23/2008 3:32 AM (GMT 0)

Hi! I've been doing my MTX injections since last Nov. I had to be switched to injections due to malabsorbtion from the pancreatitis. I give mine in my thigh in the muscle it's not bad at all. My dose just got increased from 12.5 to 20mg last week. You definately absorb more of the MTX through injection as with usually any drug by mouth you are only getting about 50% of the amount due to digestion proccess etc.

Hugs!

Cathy

Posted 4/23/2008 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
I take 25 mg injections in the abdomen every week. The shot is much more effective.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply