Methotrexate for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews (Page 2)

• Big...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2012

"After many years of joint pain, finally found a physician who looked at x-rays, labs, family history, my entire medical history and determined that I indeed had Rheumatiod Arthritis. I have noticed a significant change after being put on Methotrexate, Prednisone, Folic Acid, and Tramadol. However, now that winter is here, joints are worse and I am now on the highest dose of Methotrexate (20mg) a week but I'm able to get out and do more with less pain than before."

• Dormo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2014

"Just taken my third dose of methotrexate this week (upped to 20mg after 2 weeks on 10mg)....take folic acid 5mg 3 x week. So far side effects have been manageable. Not sure if it's the medication or the steroid injections but I am starting to feel like my old self again. No swelling and little pain now so am now able to do the things I used to take for granted again. Feel hopeful about this medicine."

• Larry...
• May 14, 2016

"I had taken methotrexate 21 years by the VA . plus Enbrel,Humira, folic acid and more ..well this is a warning ..I now have NASH it's a disease from the meds .cirrossis of the liver. Uncureable! Just change foods . Pray it doesn't get worse. WARNING. WARNING WARNING ,!"

• peter...
• January 12, 2011

"This medicine is wonderful. Without it I could not move my fingers and wrists and my knees and ankles. I feel normal and people cannot believe that I have RA. The only down side is my skin on my arms is thinned and very easy to bruise and bleed and marks but as this is a small price to pay for a normal lifestyle and to be able to work."

• MisoP...
• July 19, 2015

"I got my RA seven years ago and have eaten Mtx since then. For me it has worked great. I had no weird side effects either. I ate 8 tablets a week for seven years, but now I'm down to 6 tablets .... it works great too. I am Swedish, and our Mtx looks a bit different."

• Pearl...
• October 23, 2016

"I was started on Plaquenil when diagnosed with RA about two years ago at the end of summer. I told the doctor there was no way I would take MTX. By the following late spring I had what it took me a while to realize was a major flare-up. I already had one pointer finger that couldn't bend, and now the other one was stuck in the out position. I couldn't make fists. So I started on MTX once a week, along with 1 mg of folic acid/day. After about two months I began to see improvements. After a longer time my doctor said I was in remission. I take both Plaquenil and MTX, with few side effects. On my MTX day, and the day after, I'm sometimes low energy, and often slightly queasy. Not enough to keep me from eating entirely."

• Anonymous
• October 19, 2012

Rheumatrex Dose Pack (methotrexate) "Took methotrexate for 6 months after diagnosis for Rheumatoid arthritis, seemed to work fairly well for the pain/stiffness, but I had terrible side effects including nausea, fatigue, mood swings - almost couldn't get to work, coming up stairs felt like my feet weighed 500 pounds each - almost could not function at all. Now going to try in injectable form to see if that will not cause the side effects - hopeful."

• ACS
• July 5, 2014

"I have been on methotrexate for almost a year. I am up to 20 mg a week. I take folic acid and leucovorin calcium 12 hours after the methotrexate. I was taking Enbrel but now take Xeljanz. Before the biologics the methotrexate wasn't working very well. I take prednisone too. I am only 36 but at least I can function better than I did. I still flare about twice a month. I suffer side effects from methotrexate. My hair has severely thinned out and I get very tired after taking it. It looks like I'll be on it for a long time tho. Hopefully it gets better. I would really Like my hair to come back."

• Nakuru
• July 1, 2013

"I have taken methotrexate for 17 years and am now on 20mg per week. I have also been on Rituximab infusions for the past 3 years and together the two medicines work very well. I am mostly pain free, except for mornings."

• Turme...
• September 14, 2016

"I had taken MTX in past but it did not work out for me due to rash proplem caused by MTX so Doctor recommended Sulfasalazine and it worked out very good for about 4 years but the end of friendship came to us...Sulfasalazine was not effective anymore. I met a Doctor who practice natrual madicine also ER Dortor at the local hospital....He recommended 3 natrual Supplements for RA and pain( Turmeric, Wobenzym N, White Willow) and they are very effective (on me) and it is better than Chemical based medications. I have been off from those deadly medications for 5 months now."

• Nana
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2020

"Been on methotrexate for five months now. It still makes me nauseous, and I hate continuing with these injections. I see my doctor in March. If I have to continue with them, I'm going to ask for oral instead. I still have a lot of pain in my hands, hips, back knees. Everywhere. Is this medication helping anybody?"

• JJano
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 3, 2020

"I was on methotrexate for 5 years, I started with pills then injections as I couldn’t handle the taste and it felt like it poisoned me made my brain feel awful - I couldn’t eat - it was the worse. I had 4 car crashes from poor judgement either on the day or day after using it. I developed a bleeding disorder and explode through my skin they have called it abnormal platelet dysfunction. They don’t know what the cause is but I think it was from methotrexate. I have had heart surgery and diagnosed with angina had a stent. Added to this I have ulcerative colitis. As well as Raynards syndrome and SLE. I don’t work or even look sick but I know one thing methotrexate was a nightmare compared to all heart issues I have had and are having. I’m still looking for a job I’m not disabled but have no energy to even type this ...."

• Anonymous
• October 13, 2011

"I'm 30 years old and have been on 20mg of methotrexate for 2 years now. While I have experienced some side effects (mainly abdominal pain) I would not and will not stop taking it. So far for me the benefits have far outweighed any costs of being on methotrexate. The disease activity has dropped and I have far less swelling in my wrists, fingers and shoulders and have been able to get back into bowling leagues which I love."

• Nigel...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 8, 2016

"I am 62, and was diagnosed with RA about 10 years ago, I have been through a battery of drugs to suppress my immune system, ending up on subcutaneous methrotrexate 10mg, I originally had a 'bad day' the day after my injections, however it seems to be getting to be a bad couple of days lately. Intense pressure head ache (I'm also a migraine sufferer), nausea, confusion, tiredness and now really troubled sleep, nightmares, and some visual disruption/ (almost hallucinations), feelings of panic, unease and claustrophobic. I know the alternatives, stop and face RA full on, but I would rather get 3/4 good days than be on the road to being completely disabled."

• Loss
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 14, 2020

"I was on this medicine. I always google but this one friend insisted that I didn't and just follow doctors order. Worst case scenario I woke up one morning with dizziness and it got severe . I was not light headed or faint just dizziness and not able to function. I was laid up for more than 2 weeks. Due to dizziness . My vital signs were not off, just severe dizziness. This pill has literally caused a life changing experience. I had to close down my registered home day care . I'm not even able to function as I used too. Been off the medication for almost 2 years . but I still get dizziness and double vision , not able to take on any sort of employment because just never know when a flare up will spiked. Yes I already had other health issues. Nerve damage, blood disorders, ringing on both ears. Herniated disc. Doctors should be accountable for prescreening their patients. Si"

• Uk lady
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2012

"I have only been taking this medicine for a short while and the benefits are good so far. I am still able to keep working as a Paramedic which is physically demanding. Without my 20mg I slowly turn into a statue."

• Anony...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2018

"Methotrexate can ruin your lungs very quickly. I now have pulmonary fibrosis because two doctors insisted that it would be fine. They lie and tell you oh you just have interstitial lung disease but it usually stops..Do Not believe them! Take something else!"

• Anonymous
• March 1, 2012

"I have been taking the medication sine June 2011 I like it, but I'm always sick. It minimizes the pain and swelling, but it doesn't take it all away. I wake up every morning, and I can hardly move my ankles. I'm way to young to have to deal with this I'm only 22 years old. Some days I feel like I'm suffering, and if I'm sick I can't even walk."

• Jenn...
• June 2, 2015

"I have been on Methotrexate 25mg for 6 weeks now, but 6 month for 20 mg and I have seen much improvement with my back pain. I do have severe rib and chest pain still, but the back pain is much better. I feel like a zombie though every day I can barely make it through the day. I am so upset about my hair. I have cut almost 6 inches off and still have dry damaged hair from the medicine. I loose handfuls of hair daily and the gi problems sometimes are pretty bad. So I don't know if the side effects out way the benefits. I wish I could have someone help Me fix these side effects and I would be ok. I think the fatigued is one of the worse though. :( ...."

• AnonCat
• March 19, 2015

"A couple of years ago my husband was at the point where he was limping severely, with swollen joints in his hands and feet. He was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and began taking methotrexate at 20 mg once a week; he has since cut back to 17.5 mg. It has made a huge difference in his functioning, and he's pretty much back to normal. (Regular strength training at the YMCA has also helped a lot). He was also told to take folic acid once a day, which he does. The only negative is that his hair has thinned quite a bit, which is a common side effect. He is in his 70s."

• Sharr...
• July 19, 2015

"I was diagnosed at 10mths old after a knee biopsy. I have been taking methotrexate on & off since I was 16 years old & I am now 41 years old. This medication has greatly reduce the activity of the disease & has increased the quality of my life greatly. I have just changed from methotrexate oral tablets to methotrexate injections. The tablets were making me feel nauseous so my specialist decided to put me on injections to bypass my stomach. The injections are easy to administer & relatively pain free. I am presently just trying to find the right dose for me due to suffering side effects. 15mg has caused me a severely sore lips & mouth, nausea, dizziness, lethargy & abdominal cramps. 12.5mg is the correct dose for me."

• Ronnsy
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 12, 2016

"After a severe case of Ross River Fever for which i was taking 50 mg Prednisone daily I developed chronic degenerative Polymyalgia Rheumatica, the pain in my arms, neck, hips, knees, hands and ankles was intense and never ending, i tried all the usual pain killers including Oxycontin and Methadone with varying short term success but the mind numbing daily struggle associated with taking Opiates was taking a toll on my life, my Rheum trialed me on 15 mg mtx weekly for 2 months and the result was incredible, the pain in neck and knees almost disappeared after the first week so the Rheum increased dose to 15 mg morning and night once a week, wow what a difference! few side effects and almost pain free, thank you MTX"

• Macar...
• March 6, 2016

"Been taking Methotrexate for almost 3 years now. Last fall, I felt good enough that I went off it without my Drs knowledge, because it made me feel pretty ill for a day or so after. What a mistake! I started taking it again about 2 months ago, and although it still makes me sick, it sure beats the pain I`m in without it. (on 25 mg a week, along with Hydroxychloroquin and folic acid)"

• kpalchk
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 9, 2014

"I've had rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for 35 years. I finally found a rheumatologist that was very good. I started on Plaquenil, which was great, but I developed an allergy to it. Switched to methotrexate oral, but had a hard time tolerating the nausea and diarrhea. Switched to injectable methotrexate, and had no nausea, limited diarrhea. It worked moderately well for the RA. Not completely pain free, but could do most things most days. I got cellulitis while on it, so had to go off for about 3 mos. When I went back to it, it didn't seem to work quite as well, and I realized I was experiencing more side effects than I was aware of the first time: thin skin, dermatitis, bruising, bleeding, hair falling out. New rheumatologist (my good one moved) decided to try Arava."

• masey...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 29, 2014

"I have been taking methotrexate for two weeks now. Before taking this, I had pain in my hips, knees, ankle and could not walk on the heel of one of my feet. The pain was really bad. I am now walking on my foot again with little pain and do not feel so fatigued and tired, I do feel tired and a bit dizzy for a few days after the medication but not too bad. I am only taking 3 a week at moment, and about to take four, then five and six. Hopefully I wont have to many side affects."