Taken 25 mg mtx on a Monday for 3 yrs for Pmr just been diagnosed with shingles prescribe aciclovir

Bones, joints and muscles
1

I have already taken my dosage of mtx for the week before being diagnosed with shingles my GP is going to contact my consultant to see if I can  miss out my next dosage, very concerned because the next appointment with consultant in December he was going to drop my dosage down, as anyone had there complete dosage stopped.

2

I was on mtx for about 18 weeks, it gave me such bad side effects that I thought it was defeating the purpose of taking prednisone for PMR..My rheumi has been MIA all summer so I stopped taking my weekly shot of mtx without his permission...cold turkey.I did not feel.any difference...maybe it does allow for tapering 2.5 mgs at a time but other than that , I felt no difference.

3

Hi Greenwood,

I'm sorry you have shingles.  I had them in March 2016 and was treated with Acyclovir while staying on 25mg MTX weekly.  My immunologist and infectious disease docs both agreed it was safe for me to continue the MTX while treating the shingles.

I didn't have any side effects from the Acyclovir and the shingles took about 8 weeks to fully resolve.  They were on my forehead and eyelid.

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Best,

C

 

4

I'm very concerned just been told to come off of MTX until my shingles have gone who knows how long will this be , Due to go away on holiday concerned symptoms of PMR might start again can anyone suggest anything.

5

Methotextrate is a steroid sparing agent.   You may have to increase your pred.  I would have been more worried if they had said, stop your pred...........

6

As lodger says - you may well flare without the mtx  but I believe pred is often used in shingles to reduce the symptoms so a bit more for a while may deal with 2 problems.

7

I came off of pred in June after dropping to 1 mg after 4 yrs my consultant said when my next appointment in December he would be thinking about dropping my dosage of mtx, I have spoke to the hospital and they said leave the mtx off until spots have gone I explained my concern of having no medication can I have preds and was told I would have to discuss it with my GP surely I should have some back up just in case syptoms return .

8

You are right Eileen, but if she has to come off it.......some of the medics insist..............then up the dose of pred and it holds for the short-term till the shingles goes away.

9

I doubt they have thought of that. But to be honest, despite the mtx, if you got off pred OK then the chances are that the PMR is very probably in remission - mtx doesn't replace pred, it just makes the dose you take more potent (maybe). 

If you have any PMR-type symptoms, however mild, do discuss it with your GP though. You have a very valid argument - even if they don't think so!

10

Thanks Appreciate your reply just waiting for a call back from my GP.