leg cramps

[firecracker]

Thanks! that makes me feel a lot better about the imuran. I mean, the mtx SUCKED. i hated that crap. i truly felt like i was being poisoned weekly more and more.. and i think i was. i felt worse and worse. when i stopped it, i felt so much better. then i went downhill bad two mths later. now.. im back to like last year... bad bloodwork. almost as bad as it was then. the pred helped a ton.. pain wise and numbers wise but i have to stop the process causing the pain so hopefully imuran will work and work quick. i get toxic really fast. i hope mtx works for you.

[Sangye]

I don't have personal experience with Imuran, but I've always heard people say it was a piece of cake. No side effects. I hope it's that way for you, Firecracker.

[snooz23]

Firecracker--could you post a little something about the crappy feelings you had on meth.? I started at 15 and increased up to 25 now and don't like how it feels, however once again I never know if it is due to the drug or disease. So what side effects did you experience?

[Terri]

I was on Imuran for almost 8 months without any problems and then the Dr. changed me to Methotrexate (8-2.5 once a wk) He said the MTX is less toxic
I seem to have a harder time adjusting. From the beginning, I seem to be more fatigued the day of taking it. At first I tried taking all 8 pills in the a.m. , but I couldn't stay awake. So now I break it up. 4 in the a.m. and 4 in the p.m. I still don't have any energy.
Last month I was put on Cipro for a U.T.I. I had a 60 WBC/HPF cells in my urine. This month it is reading 60 again and I also have a reading of 10-20 RBC
so my Dr ordered a urine culture. We'll see what is going on.

[jola57]

I started with 6 x 2.5 once a week over 3 months ago and couple of weeks ago my rheumy took me down to 4 x 2.5 because my liver blood test was not that good. I have no side effects besides being tired.

[katwoman]

Jola & Terri, I am wondering why you have to take so many doses of small tablets when like Terri, I am also on 20 but take 2 x 10, do they not have larger doses of methotrexate in Canada/USA?

I also find it makes me extremely tired, I take it around 7pm and about an hour later have to head to bed and I have been finding the next day my body aches like I have the flu and my joint pain actually worsens...this is my 3rd week and I am hating it, I have blood tests next week to check liver etc.

[jola57]

Katwoman, I guess because my dose was 15 and my liver enzymes were up already my rheumy knew we were going to have to adjust the dosage. I am not tired the day I take mtx but a couple of days after.

[snooz23]

What is the test that measures liver function/enzymes?

[elephant]

It's SGOT AST, SGPT ALT and ALK phosphatase. There are other liver function test too. Many doctors order these lab test to make sure your liver function is normal. The medicines we take are metabolized by the liver. Some medicines are harsher on the liver. Hope this helps.

[snooz23]

Thanks that is helpful. I see my Alk Phos has gone down by a couple points and is out of range on the low end? So do you know if you should be most concerned about it being low or high? Thanks!