I have been on methotrexate 15 mg orally for 30 years for RA. Once stabilized on the med, I have had no flares. So my Doctor and I decided to wean off the drug. I reduced the dose to 12.5 mg weekly for 4 weeks, then 10 mg for 2 weeks when general body aches returned, but no joint flares. I am also on NSAID therapy , Celebrex 10 mg twice daily. So I took my usual dose of methotrexate 15 mg on week 3. And the general body aches resolved. So are the body aches and methotrexate doses related. We were thinking my RA had burned out. Thanks. Sandy Faucher
Rheumatoid Arthritis - What are the side effects of weaning off methotrexate?
Question posted by Sandyfaucher on 30 Nov 2017
Last updated on 3 January 2018 by wpa1733
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Answers
wpa1733
4 Jan 2018
I noticed a few reactions when I stopped MTX and began Enbrel in 2000 after six weeks or so. I had been taking 27 mg/week initially orally and then subcu. Years before that I stopped for a few weeks while my blood tests normalized so I expected that stopping altogether would not be that different. No ... no! After six weeks my hair and nails started to grow very quickly. Then, one morning I awoke with a pain in my right side. I thought it was another kidney stone. It wasn't. I was having one of the hardest priapisms I have ever had. This awakening experience lasted not longer than two weeks, but when I recounted my experience to others, I got quite a few loud laughs!
Related topics
rheumatoid arthritis, methotrexate, side effect, dosage, doctor, drug
Further information
- Methotrexate uses and safety info
- Methotrexate prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Methotrexate (detailed)
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