Goodbye Cytoxan! First dose of methotrexate is tonight. Any tips?

[Deborah T]

Hi Andy - I work M-F so I take my MTX Friday nights to deal with any s/e over the w/e. I have waste-long hair and did NOT want to lose it and am on one megadose Folic Acid qwk. I used to get GI upset with the MTX and that tired feeling, but it mostly clears by Monday. It got better to the point of minimal s/e after I was on it a few months.

Best of luck to you -
Blessings -
Deborah T

[woz]

Well done Andy,
I can remember when I kicked the Cytoxan, felt sooooo much better, especially in the stomach.
Keep up the good work.

Regards Woz......

[Alysia]

Hi Andy,
I am the only one around who took mtx differently: 2.5mgX6 days a week. this way I didnt have any nauseas.
but I had hair loss. so I took multi vitamin "strong hair" and folic acid and avacinc.
since 10 March I am no longer on mtx only rtx.
anyway, it seems to me that after ctx (I was never on it, just heard stories here) mtx is an "easy walk in the park"....
congrat for the progress

[Wegetarian]

I've never been on CTX, started straight up with MTX. My dose was slowly upped to 25mg/week. I take it all at once on Mon evening and the folic acid on Tue morning (or Mon Night). When I started back in August or so, I used to get nauseous for a few days - but that passed. Now I don't feel anything after taking it. Last Monday I went to the gym after taking my dose.

How long have people used MTX and do you know if there are plans to discontinue it or lower the dose? My doc said last fall that we might lower my dose this spring, but dunno.

[Dirty Don]

How long have people used MTX and do you know if there are plans to discontinue it or lower the dose? My doc said last fall that we might lower my dose this spring, but dunno.

I've been on 15mg weekly for 2+ years. The doc talk is that when my numbers are steadily good (normal?), they will consider taking me off mtx, but not until then. I have gotten close a couple of times, but seem to edge back up just around a year each time. THAT may be normal now for me, who knows. If I don't get off mtx, so be it. I'm 'threatened' with rtx next anyway if my numbers show drastic changes...sheesh.

[KimH]

I was on MTX 25mg weekly by injection. I tolerated it well but hated the idea of shooting it into my body so I had my husband give me the shot. My doctor gave me folic acid to prevent hair loss. I took methotrexate for a year but had to change to CTX and then RTX. I am one of the lucky ones that didn't have any overt bad reactions to the meds. Are there others out there that took the MTX by injection? My doctor told me that would help avoid nausea. It seemed to have worked for me.

[Wegetarian]

The doc talk is that when my numbers are steadily good (normal?), they will consider taking me off mtx, but not until then.

What are these evil numbers that you talk about? Pr3?

[Dirty Don]

What are these evil numbers that you talk about? Pr3?

All pertinent numbers, Pr3/ANCA..., must be at upper 'normal' or lower for at least a year AFTER I'm off pred before they will consider taking me off mtx.

[SpaceflightAddict]

All pertinent numbers, Pr3/ANCA..., must be at upper 'normal' or lower for at least a year AFTER I'm off pred before they will consider taking me off mtx.

My doctor goes off of white blood cell count, sedimentation rate, c-reactive protein, and how I feel. When I was getting diagnosed, they ran Pr3/ANCA tests once, and I was completely negative (0, none, nada, zilch) so they don't even test me for those now.

[drz]

Hello everyone!

It has been far too long since I posted here... I started feeling better, and life resumed a somewhat normal pattern.


Is there anything else I should expect or worry about?

I would also love to hear any tips or tricks y'all have for dealing with the side effects of methotrexate.

Thanks so much!

-Andy

Buy non alcohol beer cause alcohol and MTX don't mix well. Get regular labs to monitor for any bad side effects and expect it will work for you like it should. Good luck!