i have ra and oa meth is not working for me so I stopped it. I feel tried enough without having tablets making it worse some days I can't move its that's bad. Has anyone else stopped taking this drug. Thanks in advance
did you stopp this yourself?
Yes about a week ago, got to go back on the 22 nd
Why u stop taking methaxtrie how long were u on it for I have been on it a year it too down the inflammation from 97 too 22 for me so I take u don't take anything now you must be in pain are u not!!!!!!!
Hi Yeh I stopped it too, I was on the methotrexate tablets 20 mg a week with folic acid, I was sick constantly so I then injected it, nausea was still as bad so came ooff completely. Now I'm on sulfazalazine and in addition going on leflunomide in the next week or two. In my opinion it's hard to keep taking any medication if u don't see any benefit. I have a problem taking the Ra meds, I've always opted for a herbal alternative for everything, tho with ra it's difficult to get it under control.
What are you taking instead? Hope ur alternative works for you.
I've been on MTX for 2 1/2 months and it's made me feel WORSE than the Leflunomide I was on before it. I'm only on 15mg a week but it makes me nauseous and tired and it brought back pain in areas that the Leflunomide had taken care of. I was only on the MTX because I was supposed to get on a free clinical trial for Enbrel and they insisted I be on MTX for 3 months prior to starting the trial, but unfortunately they ended up closing the trial before I could get on. I was scheduled to get on it next month.
I wrote to my Rheumy on Sunday night and told her I want back on the Leflunomide. At least that stuff didn't make me sick and it was cheaper AND it took care of more pain than the methotrexate. She keeps telling me I need to give it more time, but I think 2 1/2 months I should start to feel at least a little better---not worse!
I'm so frustrated by all of it. I am getting depressed.
My rheumatologist advised me to keep taking the folic acid for about a month after you stop the methotrexate. It takes a while to get it out of your system, I stopped it too but I am on Humira and doing well on this with 10 mg. of Leuflonamide.
Hi Louslatts; as there are too many side affects for you on MTX, and you felt that ?you were better off on other meds. I don't agree with stopping medications without consulting your GP/specialist, as if you don't follow through with what they prescribe for you, they can retaliate with a sense of "well she won't listen to us, so give up....". I suggest you ring/make an appointment ASAP with your GP/or the person who prescribed the MTX and tell them what is happening to you. Take along the others' advice re medications, and then try; , but please don't cease this type of medication abruptly, as it is something that needs to ?weaned off, as do many drugs.....please don't think I'm being rude/hard to get on with, but am really concerned, as I do know how stressful coping with a new condition/medications/treatments are....please let us know how you get on with a call/visit to GP....don't wait for next scheduled visit.....Bron
Hello suelmc; sometimes I think that maybe we should be more assertive with our treatment....I don't have RA, thank goodness, but watched a very close friend suffer, and watched what the side affects of MTX did to her lungs...(have also seen the same in another Young Friend). If you felt that you were getting satisfactory results from the Leflunomide (and not also having to deal with the side affects/stress/depression as a result of the return of the pain)...then stay with what helps you best??? ....let me know how you get on...Bron
hi. i agree i think you should give it more time. I also agree that it may not work as i have been on mx for 6 mns and have has more flare up than ever, on av every 2 weeks but not always in the same joints. i am now beginning to feel the sickness as maybe its just starting to really get into my system. i have felt fine b4 with side effects tho. hope you do ok on it as when it works it is suppose to be really good. x
Hello Lesley I was on them only 2 months and yes the pain has come back but I couldn't cope with feeling down and not having any energy as I don't have a lot any way so they was taking my last bit from me.
I did just stop them as I have tried phoning them before and it took them days to phone me back I have to go back on the 22nd this month so I will update you then thanks for your advice
thank you for that as I didn't know that. But it's week 3 without them now and I am feeling a lot better apart from my normal joint pain 😜
hello Gemma 83759 they talked about sulfazalazine on top off mtx so I think I will go with them ones. I will find out on the 22nd and I will keep you all updated new to all this so a don't know a lot just what I have looked up and been told. Thank you 😄
I have only been on mtx for 2 months and there is no way I am going back on it. Don't think it suits me at all. Hope you have a pain free night 😄
I don't want to give mtx more time I feel ok now apart from the normal joint pain it has got a little bit worse but nothing I can't handle. Find out this week what they are putting me on so fingers crossed it works. Hope mtx works out for you 😄
I hear ya, louslatts! It didn't do anything for me and yet my Rheumy almost insists that I stay on it. I have started my Leflunmide again as of Thursday and that's the one I'm sticking with until we can work something else out. My hair was falling out in globs on the MTX. I think it's poison. At least for my body!
Thanks louslatts; I can see that you have given this a lot of thought, and only you know your pain and body. Please let us know what comes out of your visit, as am really interested in what the rhuemy suggests....I am not a big fan of Methotrexate, but have read re others have tried Lueflunomide (? this spelling, as not too sure re this drug); it may be your answer, along with some prednisone?? I do hate to see people in your type of pain, as I know is can be very excruitiating....best wishes, and hoping that you get some good results next visit. Bron
hello i can sympathise with you as i was diagnosed with RA in 2008 and my first thought was my life is over and i am going to be crippled in pain and unable to work but i was put onto Methatrexate and Prednisalone at quite a high dosage and it worked as i did not have pain or flare ups and no sickness and i could still work so after a few years i started to come done off both drugs but needed to have Leflunomide as well and i managed to get down to 2.5mg of Methetrexate and only 1 mg of Prednisalone but in 2014 i started to get flare ups and needed Cortisone injections for the pain and was advised to increase my Methatrexate back up tp to 20mg a week this worked for a while but recently i have had the mother of all flare ups and was in so much pain i could not sleep for 3 nights and my hand and wrist was agony and like a claw i could not get a injection in time so they increased my Prednisalone up to 20mg a day and the pain is gone so its worth taking any drugs to help the pain and to try and live a normal life and work as long as possiable i must be very lucky with my symptoms after reading the comments on this site or the meds are working for me
its just a case of trial and error with the amount of meds you need
good luck with finding your level you require
Hi, I started with RA in 2010 with upper body symptoms, arms, wrists, fingers etc....It quickly developed to the point of hardly being able to get out of bed.....the pain was horrendous!! NO painkillers worked....
This was in the space of a month, blood tests showed my inflammation factor was 147, should really be below 14.
I had a steroid injection in my butt, in 3 hours I though I was cured.....no such luck, I was put on Methotrexate, Sulphasalazine and Hydroxychloriquine in gradually increasing amounts!
It took 6 months to get under control and at the moment fatigue and some slight pain in hands and wrists occurs periodically.
My doses are, Metho 25mg p/week injection, 400mg Hdro and 3000mg Sulphaz. per day.....
My Rheumo guy at my request reduced the drugs by 20% as I was feeling so good twelve months ago.....big mistake! I'm back on full dose now and 'managing'...
so louslatts, my suggestion is stick with it if you can, also the quicker you are dealt with the less chance of your joints being disfigured!!!!
Hope that's of some help.....