I'll echo much about what Anne has said. I was on mtx from July 2012 - August 2015. At first, I didn't have too much problem with it - at least nothing that altered my lifestyle (any more than wegs had already done). After about a year on mtx, my doc at Cleveland Clinic said I was in a medication induced remission. As time progressed, I noticed a bit of fatigue the day after I took my weekly dose (varied between 15 and 20 mg weekly). I started splitting my dose taking half in the morning and half in the evening. That eased the fatigue for awhile, but last spring, I was feeling a bit wiped out for a couple of days after my dose. I should note that the fatigue was merely annoying, and not debilitating. I just had to work harder to get through the days after my mtx dose.
I spoke with my doc about this, and she decided to discontinue mtx and give me rtx as a maintenance therapy. In August 2015, I took 4 x 750 mg doses of rtx. That ended the fatigue. My monthly labs have remained stable. I feel good and am able to do everything I want to do (I'm 69 going on 54). I take bacrtrim 3 x weekly. I take 5 mg prednisone daily.
While I was on mtx, I took 1 mg/day of folic acid with no difficulty. I even took it on the day I took my mtx. My doctor never said no to do so.
I also took rtx while continuing mtx. I had two 1,000 mg doses in October 2013 with no problems.
You should always ask your doc about side effects and how to take your meds. Just remember that the side effects and disclaimers listed on the drug packaging materials are worst-case and were written by lawyers to cover their clients' (pharmaceutical companies) hineys.
Pete
dx 1/11
"Every day is a good day. Some are better than others." - unknown
"Take your meds as directed and live your life as fully as you can." - Michael Chacey, MD
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