I am on a double dose of protonix, to relieve the dry cough many of us get...worked for about 3 days, now cough is back. Am reducing pred now as body is reacting well to mtx dosages now. Doc says reduction in mtx may be next...on 6 week checkups. My point is: mtx is so powerful we have to balance against it as it does what it's supposed to do, so we need to be aware and react accordingly...knowledge is power, power is reason to act, we need to keep acting upon this weird little disease! One of the things many people on here are learning is that 'we' must be our own docs also...that is, discuss it, question it, try it, and most of all, make it our own...be patient, persistent, and positive!! Have a good one all!