Methotrexate

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (pancolitis) about 12 years ago and had a really tough time gaining remission during my first few years of diagnosis. I was on Sulfasalazine and prednisone for awhile. I kept flaring up while they attempted to taper me off the prednisone, which then led me to be started on Remicade. I did not respond to the remicade so I was taken off it. I was then placed on Lialda and Imuran, which worked well for me for many years and have only minor flare ups. Then I made a huge mistake and went off my medications (thought I was doing well and didn't want to have to take medications for the rest of my life). I started having a bad flare up in November 2013 and was placed back on Lialda and prednisone taper (my doctor wanted to hold off on the Imuran since I did well with being off my medications for over a year). After the prednisone taper I started feeling mcuh better..but I was still having blood and mucus in my stools...but not much pain. I ignored following up with my GI doctor after this because I lost my health insurance coverage and could not afford another appointment. Fast forward a few months and I start getting very sick again. My GI doctor started me back on Prednisone, but it was not helping and my symptoms were much worse than I've had before. I ended up in the hospital for four days on IV steroids and fluids.

Because of the severity of my current flare up my doctor wants me to start Methotrexate in a clinical trial for UC. I am just wanting to know more information about Methotrexate and if it has worked well for any of you. She states that because of my severity she believes I need something stronger than the Imuran and wants to hold off on taking Humira because of the expense.

What are the Pros and Cons of both Imuran theraphy and Methotrexate? What worked best for you? Is methotrexate really a stronger/better alternative to Imuran?

I do currently have insurance right now, but my doctor and her nurse are attempting to set me up as a charity case to help me out. I didn't respond well in the past to remicade, but this was 10 years ago. My doctor said if I fail to respond the the Methotrexate that she wants to start back the Imuran and possibly start Humira. I'm a bit worried about flaring up again before the start of the Methotrexate since now being only on 40mg of oral prednisone my symptoms are starting to come back a bit. I hope that Humira also has assistance program. I know Shire offered help for Lialda.

Thank you for the website. I'll be sure to look into it if the Methotrexate does not work for me.

A bit of a set back to me starting Methotrexate study. Apparently my stool sample came back positive for C. Diff. which has completely shocked me since last week while in the hospital my stool sample was negative for it. I am having no symptoms which would leave me to believe that I had an infection. I'm not sure if the prednisone is controlling the symptoms I might be having associated with the C. Diff infection or not. They want me to be clear of C. diff before starting the Methotrexate (which i was suppose to start this week). My doctor has called me in some Flagyl hopefully this will clear it up.

I am curious if anyone here has been diagnosed with C. Diff without having symptoms? Is it really possible to have been negative last week and then to be positive this week? I've just discouraged that this is going to prolong my time on the steroids. I really want to be off them now. Having terrible time sleeping.