Currently on Humira - now to start methotrexate too???

I started Humira nearly 3 weeks ago and I'm already seeing improvements! I'm having just 2-3 BMs a day, and they aren't as loose - still aren't normal but looking a little better! The cramps and painful gurgles aren't there as much either. I'm still getting a good bit of the stabbing/twisting-type pain, mainly on my left side (sometimes it spreads though), and still a bit gassy. But I'm started to feel better in general too, not as tired, or grouchy anymore. And my first blood work came back fine. So I'm delighted!

But I got a phonecall this morning from my GI's secretary saying that he wanted to see me on Friday. I was confused, as my bloods were fine, I wasn't feeling any ill effects, and he had initially said to come back 2-3 months after I started Humira, to see how I was progressing. So after ringing around, and talking to the IBD nurse, she finally found out that he wants to start me on Methotrexate. She explained that it is sometimes used in conjunction with Humira & Asacolon, especially if the disease is initially quite severe, but she obviously didn't know why he wanted to put me on it now, or why my GI didn't tell me about it when we had the talk about starting Humira.

So I wanted to ask, is this a "normal" treatment method (biologic & immunosuppressant)?
Is it normal to introduce it a few weeks after starting the biologic?

I'm quite worried about it too, because I didn't respond very well to imuran & 6MP; even without the pancreatitis, I felt very nauseous & exhausted on them. I'm not really having any side-effects from Humira - I'm getting some headaches, but they usually aren't too bad/debilitating, and that's it. So I'm wary at introducing another new drug, and potentially losing another few weeks to feeling awful on it.

Do people in general find it as bad as imuran/6MP?

And not only the physical side-effects, the stress of going on another new drug. I was starting to actually feel a bit happy again that something was finally starting to work and I could do go out and do stuff last weekend, that I haven't been able to do in a long time (without feeling awful anyway).
Is it worth being on the two drugs?
Should I not just stay on Humira alone, seeing as it's working for me? And save the methotrexate for when the Humira stops working?

I know that I need to talk to my GI about all this too, but I just wanted to get people's opinions before I go, as part of my research on the drug, so I can have as many questions for him to help make my decision. I'd appreciate any thoughts from anyone!
Sorry for it being such a long post - I just feel like I was starting to get on track, and now this is thrown in without any warning, and I'm starting to feel the stress again.
Thanks for any help!

I am on both Methotrexate and humira also. The thing is though, I also have IBD related arthritis. My Rheumatologist says, the methotrexate helps the humira to work. Which in my case it did. But..............I am refering to my arthritis. The humira did not work for my arthritis by itself, but with the combination of humira and methotrexate it worked. So this might be in your case also for helping your UC. The combination of both compliment each other. Hope this helps

if i were you, i would stay on the humira until it stops working. generally, the combo of a biologic and immuno is supposed to work better. if you feel great on just the humira, i'd stick with it since who wants to take more drugs if you don't need to? if you start to see that you are declining, then i'd add in the methotrexate so you don't build up antibodies to humira.

i think your doc is just doing what is proven to work the best. metho comes in pills and shots. i always prefer taking a pill over a shot though!

Methotrexate injections are usually prescribed over pills for IBD patients. I was given several reasons for this - worries over absorbtion issues for the pills in IBD patients, injections more effective, can get away with a lower dose in injection over pill. The injection was once weekly and I didn't even feel it go in (unlike Humira). That's about the only nice thing I can say about methotrexate. My advice is to resist adding it to your mix if the Humira alone is working, but definitely listen to your doctor's reasoning for suggesting it. It can always be added later, but like Imuran and 6-MP it takes several months to start working, supposedly.

Interesting, yet scary. I'm faced with a similar challenge. Humira + Imuran or methotrexate vs. surgery. They all seem soooooooo scary. How to decide?

Thanks to everyone for replying to me!

I've no idea what dose or method or anything that he potentially has in mind for me - it was a surprise for me to get the phonecall yesterday, as we had never discussed it before!
I'm seeing him tomorrow evening, so I will talk it out with him then. I think in my mind I've decided that I don't want to start it right now; I'd like to have even a short while of felling relatively ok, with minimal side effects! But I'll obviously listen to his reasoning and his advice too, and take everything into account. I do trust him, but at the end of the day, it's my body and my treatment, so it is my decision!

Thanks again!

I took Methotrexate Injections and Remicade at the same time for 2 years without any problems. My GI said Methotrexate works to lessen the chance of building up antibodies and also the combo seems to work better. My current GI says he recommends the same thing... Actually he says pick one - Imuran or Methotrexate, if one doesn't work switch to the other.

Anyway - I hated the idea to be honest, and more so I hated giving myself the injections but the two combined really helped if that perhaps puts your mind at ease a little. I'm sure there are many on both of those.

I get where you're coming from though... I thought about it forever, and didn't really want to take it etc etc... all the same thoughts and reasons as you. It took a severe flare to make my mind up to take them both. Funny how quick we run to meds when we hit the severe stage, haha.