Switching medication

Hi everyone,

I'm 23 and have had RA for three years.  During this time I have been taking 6 Sulfasalizine tablets and for the past year 400-800mg Ibuprofen (1-2 tablets) a day.  The past few months I have been in a lot more pain, particularly in my neck, back, knees, wrists and elbows.  For this reason my rheumy thinks methotrexate should be the next step and I will be starting this next month when I return to the UK from my year abroad.

Having read some of your experiences with methotrexate it sounds like an awful drug to be on, with many side effects.  If this is the case, are there any alternative meds that are similar in strength to mtx?  I know everyone is different and it's difficult to tell how you will react until you start taking the drug.  I guess what I want to know is why mtx and not an alternative drug with less side effects?

Also am I correct that I will not be able to drink alcohol if I'm taking mtx?

Do the side effects usually ease up after a while or continue?

I've read that the injections have less side effects but does treatment usually begin with pills before injections?

MTX isn't so bad except for the hair loss and sometimes mouth sores.  Most people here will tell you that taking folic acid or leucovorin will ease the side effects.  This is true, but I still lost a lot of hair.  But the flip side is: I truly can not WALK w/out it.  So I always tell people, if you are at the point where stiffness is keeping you from performing normal tasks, then go for it.  If you think you can hold off w/ some Anit-Inflammatories instead, then do that. 

Just make sure you take your folic acid if you do start the MTX!  And Oh- just tell your doc you want the injections if that is what you prefer. 

Welcome.

- Kati

Hi,

I was first given MTX around a year ago in tablet form and when I showed no side effects the consultant thought it wasn't working.   I started Enbrel at the same time and I went from almost being at the point of not walking to being quite nimble.

I switched to MTX injections and so far so good although they've had to reduce it form the highest dose to the lowest, as my white cell count can't tolerate it and it just drops.

I've read all the comments on here about side effects and am amazed and realise how scary they sound but please not everyone has the same experience.  

Before these two drugs I really was in a real mess and had no quality of life, I'd had enough.   Listen to your Consultant and trust what they say but always be aware of what your body is telling you, I really do think that you can get to know your own body.

Dozey.

I was treated a few years back with MTX alone in pill form and it really didn't help-the only side effects I get are nausea and some hair loss.  The only success I ever had with MTX was 8 pills per week and bi-weekly Humira injections.  But everyone is different.  I am off both medications now since my husband and I are trying to have a baby and I can tell you my quality of life is terrible-I personally say give it a shot and you can always stop it if you don't feel it is helping-you are your best advocate when it comes to your treatment!

Hi:

I was lucky with MTX, never any sides effects and I had been taking 6 pills a week with enbrel.  The first couple of weeks were a little rough but as each week it went by it got better.  I took them right before I went to bed.  When I took them alone they did help some but the Enbrel/MTX combo really made a huge impact.  Its so interesting how these drugs effect people differently.  I think I have also read and heard from my dr. that they have so much data around the benefits of MTX because it has been around so much longer.  I do get my blood tested regularly and you do have to be careful with alcohol but I still have a couple here and there, just not regularly.