Average dose of MTX

[NicShaf]

Just wondering, what is the average dose of MTX? My rheumy is starting me on 2.5mg per week, is this high or low? should I expect it to go up from here, or will I be at this dose for a while?

Thanks,
Nicole

[Chris G]

2.5mg per week sounds, pardon me for saying this, but ridiculously low. Yes, they usually taper us up to a maintenance dose, be even so, they usually start at 10mg per week. When I was started on it.......week 1 was 10 mg, week 2 was 15mg, and week 3 was 20mg (which was to be my maintenance dose). After that we increased it to 25, and then 30 because we were not seeing results.

Average maint dose is usally 20-30mg per week.

[Lightwarrior]

Just wondering, what is the average dose of MTX? My rheumy is starting me on 2.5mg per week, is this high or low? should I expect it to go up from here, or will I be at this dose for a while?

Thanks,
Nicole

I started on 25mg a week and have had to drop to 15mg (six 2.5mg tablets) due to dropping my WBC)

[NicShaf]

I'm a dork! I misread my doctors email...I haven't picked up my prescription yet, so don't worry, I didn't do anything wrong yet I'm sure the pharmacist would have straightened me out.

It says 2.5mg tablets x 3 tablets once a week....does 7.5mg sound better?

[NicShaf]

Not sure if this also makes a difference...I haven't shown sypmtoms of Wegs for a long time, been on CTX for a year...been on 25mg CTX for about 10 weeks now.

[Chris G]

7.5mg mtx sounds like a more reasonable starting point. What does it say about increasing weekly? What will be your maintenance dose?

[NicShaf]

That is why I was asking, he didn't mention increasing my dose in his email, and so I didn't know what his plan was...I'm trying to read his mind a little. I see him in two weeks, so it seems that maybe he would like to see how I'm doing and discuss it in person at my next appointment. Thanks for all the input, now I know what questions I'm asking when I do see him.

[Chris G]

If you're seeing him in 2 weeks, he'll tell you what to do next in person. That's way better than via email

I suspect he'll put you on a maintenance dose of 20ish. That seems to be where they like to start. Good luck with it!!

[Dryhill]

I am on 1.2g CTX infusion every three weeks which is not working and whilst waiting for funding to be agreed so I can have RTX, I have also been having 20mg of MTX every week.

Jim

[Thakator]

Hi Nicole,
Chris has it right (per my experience and study); start low like 7.5mg for a few weeks and move up steadily to the 20's then hold there. Ron