I'm back with questions about mtx

Hi. I am so sorry that you are having a rough time. Enjoying our kids and their activities should not mean that we have to suffer. This disease is so frustrating.
I have never tried methotrexate. . However, I have been on the generic CellCept for about 4 weeks, now, and the difference is amazing. It, too, is an immunosupressant. I did have an allergic type reaction when I first tried it. So, I stopped and then gradually restarted. This seemed to do the trick. The pain and joint swelling have really decreased. I did not realize how bad I was getting! My "fatigue factor" has greatly improved. And the best part is my "brain function". I am so much clearer, now, the "fog" is gone.
Hopefully, you will have the same positive response to the mtx. Good Luck!!

Thanks Lynnwood and Fran. I'm starting to have a lot of anxiety about it, but I know some of that is because it's late and I'm tired. I have just read some stories online about people who are sick for days from side effects and I need to be able to function since hubby is not home enough during the week to help get kids where they need to be. The flip side is that there are plenty of people who take it with minimal side effects, but of course, I focus in on the negative experiences and freak out :(

Hi Hippi,

I've been taking Mtx for about two years now.  I know how you feel and I definitely prepared for the worst when I first took it.  Made sure I had seven up, soup, ginger cookies on hand for nausea.  But, guess what?  I have never really gotten sick in all this time.  I usually take it Friday nights so I can rest on the weekends with it.  I have had maybe 3 or 4 times when I can say I experienced a little bit of nausea.  It wasn't bad enough to really make me sick though.  On the good side, I can say I defiitely feel better taking it and can tell when I haven't.

I hope this helps calm some of the uneasiness you are experiencing.  Let us know how it goes.

Hi Hippi:

I'm so sorry that you've been having such a hard time.  I've missed not seeing you and today when I spoke with Carol on the phone she and I were wondering how you were doing. 

I've been on Mtx for almost 1 year now and I take the max oral dose of 25mg per week.  I normally don't have any nausea from it a bit of fatigue the next day but over all no real side effects from it.  Ocassionaly, I'll get some mouth sores from it but Folic Acid helps with that.  I also took Mtx back in 2002 and again at the highest oral dose and I really didn't have to many side effects.  It can take a bit of time to adjust to but I never had vomiting or anything that serious.  I'd suggest you take it Friday night go to bed and if you'll have any side effects, hopefully you'll sleep through it.  I hope on Saturday you feel alright and just give yourself time to rest.

If you have any questions I'll be more than happy to answer them for you.  You have my personal email so you can email me or leave a post here.  I'm not doing to well and it looks like I'll be going into the hospital tomorrow for some IV fluids.  I'll email you my cell number and if you need give me a call and I'll be more than happy to put your anxieties to rest.

So glad to see you back.

Hugs,

Barb

Hey Hippie,

I am sorry to say that I had to stop Methotrexate because of  side effect that caused me to have really dark depression.  this side effect is rare however, so probably you will not have it.

EXcept for that depression, methotrexate was wonderful.  especially not having the  lupus fog, no diarrhea, had so many good days, it was wonderful.

Hester

Wow, thanks for all of the replies. It helps a lot hearing how the mtx has affected others. I'm mostly scared of feeling really sick, but it sounds like that is not happening for a lot of you who take it with folic acid and a good meal. I know there is always the chance I could react poorly to it. I wish wasn't so anxious about it. I hope I respond well to it and that I can eventually get off of prednisone.

I want to catch up and post more.  I have been doing a little bit of substituting at my kids' school and I subbed today so I am completely worn out.

Hippi,

I did not read everyone else's post, but I wanted to quickly let you know that I, also, was very scared to try mtx.  When I finally made the decision to do it, however, it made a signficiant difference in just a few months.  Now, i can't imagine what I would feel like without it.  I was started out on 7.5 mg/week (which is low), but I didn't start feeling anything until it was raised to 15mg/week.  Starting you at 10mg/week is probably a good idea.  When I first started taking it, I found that it made me a tad bit queasy (honestly, not as bad as plaquenil did), and very tired for a day or two after taking it.  AFter being on it for a few months, however, I didn't experience any side effects.  I also take enbrel for my joints, but if I had to choose between them I would go with mtx hands-down.

It's not as scary a drug as it's made out to be (IMHO).

Best of luck on your decision,

El

Best of luck, Hippi!  I really understand the anxiety issue with a new med.  I put off taking Plaquenil for so long because of it - and turns out my fears did not materialize.  Hope the same happens for you and you get all the benefits. 

Lucy

Well, I took my first dose last night and I seem to be tollerating it okay. I think starting at 5mg was a good idea. I don't think I'll be so anxious about taking it anymore.