I took my first dose of 6 - 2.5mg pills last night for my arthritis. Woke up a few hours later in the most excruciating joint pain I have ever had--in EVERY joint including my knuckels of my fingers. Anyone ever experience this crazy reaction to this medication??
Hello Jacob --
I did not have excrutiating pain after my first dose, but I do know that it really took until about my 3rd weekly dose to start feeling any relief from my normal pain levels. Up until that point I still had to continue taking my extra strength Bayer aspirin. (But that being said, I would call your practitioner in case you are having some other sort of unexpected reaction)
I have been complaining of joint pain in my hips and legs, for months. I could no longer tolerate the pain, so stopped the MTX about 7 weeks ago, after 18 months on it.
I was on 10mg/week. I spoke to my Consultant's secretary but, as yet, I haven't seen him. I am still in pain but it is bearable now. I was taking MTX for a skin condition, which has, of course, taken on a new life of its own.
Contact your Consultant, Jacob.
Dear Lisa34277:
Thank you for your prompt and helpful reply. Needless to say I will not be taking any more Methotrexate anytime soon. But unfortunately this was my third medication I've tried for my polymylagia rheumatica. I guess I have to keep looking. Thanks again.
Dear mrsmop:
Thank you for your prompt and helpful reply. I could not believe that the meds I was taking for pain actually could cause it to increase out of proportion. Good luck on your skin condition. (You may want to try a drug called Cimzia. I tried it, cleared my psoriasis but did nothing for pain).
Hi Jacob, I'm sure I read something on the PMR forum, that MTX doesn't help PMR. Have you explored this area?
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/browse/polymyalgia-rheumatica-and-gca-1708
EileenH is very helpful.
I was just having a look at it, thank you. I don't know that it is used for my problem.
Thanks for that data. My rheumi AND my GP both recommended MTX After Cimzia didn't do anything for the pain. I'm coming off of prednisone now after weeks of taking it. It does help the pain but leaves awful side effects. It seems I have multiple immune system disorders and they are trying to hit in the right combo of meds to help me.
I think you'll probably find more help with your PMR if you post in the PMR forum. Doctors are very keen on tapering the steroids too quickly with PMR, thus causing flares.
What other autoimmune diseases do you have?
I have psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis with a touch of the PMR. The only pain relief I get is from the prednisone. Of course I get all the other "gifts" as well, including the beginnings of a cataract in my left eye, skin bruises, and high blood pressure. I will go over to the PMR area and see what's going on there. Thanks again.
I developed a cataract in my left eye, as a result of steroid eye drops, had an implant in 1992! It can only happen once in each eye.
I was on oral pred for 3 years and finally came off it last October, I still have to take 3 different tablets to keep my blood pressure under control.
I have often wondered whether I would have been better off on Pred.
I doubt if the pain is as a result of Methothrexate, at least give it a 2nd week to come to that conclusion. All my joints are affected by rheumatoid arthritis so pain was really bad and when i started on Meth (15mg tablets), it was in conjunction with prednisolone and sometimes tramadol to help with the pain as methotrexate takes a couple of weeks to take effect. It helps a little but still had bad episodes so was switched to the injection on an increased doze (20mg) and after a few week, i feel like brand new.
All i'm saying is that anything could have triggered your pain and give it one more week before you put it down to the Methrotrexate
Dear Yejyde:
Thanks for that great advice. I had some pain (the usual) yesterday prior to taking the MTX. What I woke up to after taking it was more like someone trying to pull all my limbs and digits off while making me listen to an out-of-tune orchestra; just totally torturous all around. I can't think of anything but the MTX that would have caused. I also get the same reaction from Celebrex, not as bad, but it does make the pain worse.
Yes..I think methotrexate is not effective for every type of RA.. and this is what happened with me, as it were poison or arsenic to my body.. This drug drastically INCREASED my inflammation triggering the wost pain ever. Methotrexate depletes folic acid instantaneously which I found then triggered many other difficiencies that had me in extreme all over pain for 2+ yrs. I found that a good multivitamin was very much needed along with very imp supplements, and strictly watching gluten and dairy, absolutely no alcohol, that has taken away my pain for 4+ yrs except for an ocassional flair. The much needed supplements to put my body back in sync were magnesium glycinate, D3 with calcium, and fish oil capsules..and 1 mg folic acid daily. I do not take methotrexate,biologics, sulfa drugs..but do take plaquenil and mobic for my RA. The methotrexate was poison for me.
Dear Cheria:
All I can say is " WOW" and thank you. When I told my own GP about the pain he said he never heard of such a thing. I'm so glad you responded. What I will do, with your permission, is print your reply and show it to him and my rheumi. It sounds like you got the condition under control and without the drugs. Once again thanks so much for your reply.
My immune system was totally out of wack after taking extended prednisone which then caused adrenaline fatique, causing so many all over symptoms. I had to build my health and immune system back up after extensive researching about the adrenal exhaustion which made me take much of my health in my own hands along with the help of some traditional medicine. I was completely depleted of nutrients and balance internally.
sorry to hear about the pain, I totally understand. There were days when I couldn't take a step on my own so having increased pain as you've described is no joke and not to be seen likely. I've used Celebrex but it never took d pain away just eased it a little bit. One thing I know for sure is we all react differently to these medications so it's up to each individual to understand his or her body. Can you check d composition of both Meth n Celebrex to see if there's something common which might be the underlying cause of this increased pain.
I hope you find something that your body will respond to that will make u feel better.
I'm exploring the option of supplements as I'll like to stop d meth one day to avoid bruises n rashes and episodes of very low white blood counts and I'll share with d group of it actually works. All the best
Hi Jacob,
Your so welcome :-D... yes, i am in remission... I do take plaquenil for the RA and an anti inflammatory (mobic) and have changed my whole diet and lifestyle. I studied up on all the diferent things that cause or contribute to inflammation (stress, lack of 10 1/2 -12 hrs sleep, lifestyle, gluten, dairy, beef, spaghetti sauce, soy, sugars, etc), and changed much of my diet and habits..integrated fresh green smoothies made with almond or coconut milk and fresh antioxidant fruits , and all the suppliments and vitamins that are needed to be in balance with each other for proper absorption and need to be able to be absorbed daily... I take a good multi vitamin, 500 to 1000 mg calcium with 1000mg D3, magnesium glycinate, 2 to 4 fish oil capsules, sometimes B complex and stay on top of all dental infections or needed extractions that need to be addresses..taken care of ( do not agree to have root canals bec of the high chance of having pockets of bacteria in the root system that can become systemic and hugely contribute to RA inflammatory conditions) ..because it took a while to get stablized and off methotrexate, sulfa medications, ans off biologics, i do have some joint damage...but for about 4 yrs, my inflammation markers have been low and stabllized with about 1 flare yrly.. I also usually take 5 mg daily prednisone to keep me free of flareups. Best of luck to you!!
Dear Cheria:
can't thank you enough for all the insight and info you just gave me. I thought that this was a life sentence with no help on the horizon. The doctors here in Miami Beach are so totally in the dark when it comes to certain diseases. It seems autoimmune conditions and their treatments are not their forte. I will show both my doctors all you have written andI will start to follow the same course of action you have undertaken. I probably will consult with a nutritionist and use the doctors for the more usual medical needs.
Thanks again.
Dear Jacob,
I wish you the very best. I feel its super important to be proactive in our health and find myself striving to keep my adrenal glands healthy, as they become exhausted from extended prednisine use and other aspects of the RA disease.. Very important. I wish you the very best.