Anyone on methotrexate?

My doctor just gave me this option last week as well, when I had to stop Imuran because it was affecting my pancreas.  He told me I'd take 7 pills once a week according to my weight apparently.  He said mostly used for Crohn's patients, he's had alot of patients with UC who can't use Imuran/6mp use it with success.

At the time I was doing pretty well on 10mg of Prednisone and decided I wanted to try weaning off the Prednisone further before I went to the Methotrexate.  I take Colazal and Mesalamine enemas too however.  I'm at 7.5mg of Prednisone now though and starting to feel a little off. Still normal BMs some of the time but sometimes not.  No blood (although I tend to not get that as much at the start of a flare).  So I may end up going on Methotrexate - I am going to wait to see how I do over the weekend. If I get worse I"ll be calling on Monday to start up on it. 

Did your GI say how much you would need to take? Sounds like it can make you nauseas the day after you take it - my GI said most people take it Sunday night as they don't care if they feel sick going to work on Monday anyway :)  He did say he could give me Zofran for nausea, but that tends to give me a migraine so I doubt I'd take him up on that offer.

 

That's interesting, I didn't know they had shots of the drug.  The pills must be the current option and they are trying the shots like you said similar to Humira.  I remember getting a letter about a drug study from Mayo a few months ago but it didn't say what drug it was for or if you'd get the actual drug or a placebo, so I didn't want to take a chance.  Wonder if it was for the same trial?  I'll be interested to know how it works out and if it has the same side effect as the other similar drugs. At least with methotrexate, you know they already give it in pill form so its not a totally new drug, sounds like just a different method of giving it patients.

^I will ask that tomorrow. I have been on Imuran for almost 8 years. It worked great for me for awhile. Even w/ an increased dosage from 100mg to 150mg it stopped working. Remicade only worked for me for a few months.

Eva, I think both oral and injectable have been around for a while. I don't like methotrexate but I don't see it as any worse than anything else. I don't really like taking 6mp but it keeps my UC away so I try not to think about it too much.

Ask them to give you Zofran (anti-nausea med). That is what my GI told me they usually give for the nausea from Methotrexate.

I met w/ the research nurse yesterday at my GI doctors. This is all new to me as I have never done a study. They recorded my weight and height. Went over my medical history. I answered 10,000 questions.

My GI came in. He did a physical. Monday I go back to drop off stool samples. I do bloodwork and a pregnancy test that day as well. I also have to go for a chest x ray (to confirm no tb). The 26th I have a baseline flex sig.

In this study you are guaranteed the drug for the first 16 weeks. At that point it goes into a blind study. I was assured we could stop anytime if I don't feel well, get worse, etc.

They will send the shots to my house along w/ anti nausea meds and folate supplements that are required.

Think that is it! Hope everyone is having a great weekend! I went to a bootcamp workout class w/ my neighbor this am. I'm going to be sore tomorrow!