Methotrexate for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews (Page 4)

• Kim...
• October 12, 2019

"So far, I have experienced great results. I double up on my folic acid the day of and after my injection, as it helps with being tired. I do experience diarrhea about 24-48 hours after taking the shot."

• Dev...
• September 16, 2015

"Methotrexate has helped with the pain, but no one told me that it could affect my blood glucose and pressure. I worked for 3 years to control my diabetes with diet and had just completely normalized my glucose levels. Methotrexate ruined that with the first dose. So should a person take it and add additional BP meds and have to go on diabetes meds?"

• Mai...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 12, 2018

"I have been on 15 mg, then 20 mg for two years. Then developed constant, explosive diarrhea, dizziness, and confusion. Judged to be allergic, and told to stop the medication immediately. The symptoms continue... How long before it gets better? I am not taking anything for RA right now after a week off methotrexate."

• wen...
• September 11, 2016

"I've been on methotrexate for 4 months now. The rheumatoid arthritis came out of nowhere. I went to my primary care physician with my feet and my thumbs, he basically said I was getting older, to take Aleve and get comfortable shoes. Well, a month later, I could barely walk, so my primary care physician did blood work. My RA factor was 1382. It took me another month to get an appointment with a rheumatologist. The rheumatologist is going to fail me on methotrexate on the 28th of this month because my levels are not coming down as expected. I am currently on 17.5 mg of methotrexate. I take them on Friday night, and Saturdays I am exhausted. I constantly have pain in my hands, wrists, ankles, knees, and feet. I am just afraid the next medication won't work either."

• ein...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2016

"I was very ill on methotrexate for 10 weeks, nauseous, weak, pain in my chest. I was told I would get used to the side effects. After 10 weeks, I ended up in the ER vomiting blood, requiring blood transfusions. Methotrexate was very dangerous for me and has destroyed my stomach. I found minocin very helpful until I pulled out an infected root canal... Instant relief. No pains now."

• Jod...
• August 6, 2016

"When I went to see my doctor, I couldn't even write my name. My hand hurt so badly I couldn't even hold a pen. She examined me, took blood work, and gave me a steroid shot. A week later I returned, and we discussed my options, and she recommended methotrexate. She went over the side effects, etc. I'm into my second week, and I'm happy to say no side effects. 1 injection .06 once a week, folic acid daily. I'm at 80% better and looking forward to 99%."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 19, 2018

Methotrexate "I've been using Otrexup for several months now, increasing from a 10 mg injection to a 20 mg. I have had severe leg cramps in my thigh muscles since beginning this drug. However, I was injecting into the same leg and then leg(s), so maybe I will try the stomach. I am also on Rituximab infusions. These drugs have turned my health around; my RA is now manageable."

• Lag...
• October 25, 2016

"I was diagnosed with RA just under a year ago. I started with 10 mg tablets with Folic Acid. Initially, I suffered from a lot of nausea and bad sleep, etc. I must confess, though, after the first diagnosis, every twitch or cough made me think the worst. My doctor upped my dosage to 12.5 mg and changed me to the injection, which she said should take away the nausea, which worked, but the pains remained. She also put me on anti-inflammatory pills. Shortly after my last check-up in July, my pains have nearly completely subsided, so I didn’t."

• GW7...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 3, 2016

"I've been using methotrexate for about a year. Haven't had any bad side effects. But when I started using the Plaquenil (generic form), the side effects were awful. My hands became red and very dry, cracking to the point of bleeding. I could not stop scratching. I had dry, almost psoriasis-like patches on my wrist and arms. Had to stop taking it. All that went away. I'm still taking the methotrexate without any issues. Just have to keep up with the blood work. Now, however, the doctor wants me to start on Humira, and I'm worried about the side effects that might cause. So, please, I need some feedback on Humira. What type of issues have any of you who take it had? Thanks!"

• Ore...
• February 6, 2018

"The first two weeks were difficult. I had headaches, nausea, and no appetite. But by the third week, I was feeling better. I told the doctor about my reaction to the drug, and she put me on self-injection of the drug once a week. I cannot tell you how much better I feel. But then I thought, WAIT, what if I had been going through a remission episode? Either way, I have never felt better. Now I am going to start a rotation of infusions. I feel like someone got something right for a change. I totally credit my excellent doctor and her choice of treatment. Years and years of constant pain were almost more than I could take. But I was in so much pain that any reduction felt like a cure."

• Mar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 4, 2017

"I am 49 years old and was diagnosed with RA last September after a spring/summer of hell. Pain started in my knees, then hands, wrists, elbows, feet, and worst of all, one shoulder. I was crawling before I started on 12.5 mg of Methotrexate, folic acid, steroids, etoricoxib, and amitriptyline at night. In November, no change, apart from terrible fatigue. My dose was increased to 20 mg per week with more folic acid and a general steroid injection. I felt improvement at the end of January 17, with pain still in my hands and feet. I went back to work for a few hours a week... big mistake. The fatigue has been tough, and I have a lot of muscle wastage, and my hands and feet hurt a lot. I will be seeing the consultant tomorrow, fingers crossed - although that hurts!"

• Rhe...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 2, 2015

"Started MTX in early 2010, I was on it the better part of the last 5 years. I'm also on my fourth biologic. I take 2 mg of folic acid daily. Last May, I did a four-day stretch in the hospital because of bone marrow suppression. RBC, WBC, ANC, platelets, and hemoglobin were very low (ANC under 200). I was given leucovorin rescue. This is a very rare side effect for low-dose MTX. Although the drug only gave me a 10 to 20% improvement, the biologic gives me 60 to 90%. Now I'm about to start Arava, I wish I could retry the MTX at half dose as it doesn't cause much in the way of minor side effects. I often think of Huey Lewis and his song 'I Want a New Drug.'"

• Emm...
• January 18, 2016

"I was put on methotrexate about 5 months ago after a nasty flare-up back in the spring. I have had arthritis in my left knee since the age of 2 but found the arthritis went into remission all through my teens and has kind of been in and out of remission throughout my 20s. Steroid injections always worked well, but this time around, it did nothing. The R/A has now spread to my shoulders and wrists as well, so I was put on methotrexate 20 mg once a week along with hydroxychloroquine. I have found that it has only been the last couple of weeks that I am starting to feel some benefit from the meds. The knee pain is much better, although my wrists are still very painful, especially at night! My consultant assures me the meds will work. Fingers crossed."

• Pat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2019

"I have possibly reactive arthritis, but the doctor is not sure. I have been on methotrexate for more than a month at a dose of 15 mg a week and folic acid. No side effects at all so far, but no help either. No improvements."

• Tei...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 18, 2016

"I've been on methotrexate for 9 months now, 20mg once a week with 2 folic acids 2 days later. My problem is that whilst the med is working, it's playing havoc on my liver. I've had to come off it as my LFT results were constantly increasing, then suddenly doubled. She asked me to have a biopsy of my liver to work out if it is definitely the methotrexate or something else. I guess this is what I need to do now. I've finally got myself down to 5mg prednisone, and now the rheumatologist has said stop MTX and see how you go. If we need to, we can up the prednisone. I don't want to up the prednisone. I eat like a horse and put on so much weight. I'm hoping there's something else out there that will help me. Already tried sulfasalazine and got a rash and other side effects."

• RZC...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 4, 2017

"I was on this medicine for about 4 years. I tried the pill form, which caused severe vomiting. After 2 doses, it was intolerable, and I was switched to injectable. I felt exhausted and had nausea and diarrhea for 3-4 days, but I was able to get out of bed for the other days, so this was a plus. Unfortunately, I picked up a nasty case of pneumonia even after getting the vaccine. Either I had exposure or it was caused by the methotrexate. I had to stop methotrexate. It took at least 2 months to recover, and I'm still having asthmatic reactions. My doctor says I should continue to stay off it for now. He wants me to restart if RA symptoms return (which they are). I'm terrified to restart. He wants to switch to Simponi, but I'm afraid of that too."

• Spa...
• January 23, 2016

"I have had rheumatoid arthritis for 15 years, severe and aggressive. Finding a good rheumatologist has been impossible. I take Humira, methotrexate, and folic acid. Taking the prescribed dose of methotrexate, 10 mg once a week. I am so lethargic, still stiff hands, feet, joints, as well as pain. It is better than no medication because that pain is fire, this has dulled the fire. Had one surgery on my shoulder. My hair has been rapidly falling out again, I can't eat normally. After reading this blog, I realize I may do better with either injections or stopping completely. Plaquenil and sulfasalazine were of no benefit. Allergic to biologics. Had to find one that has been a game changer."

• roh...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 25, 2016

"Methotrexate helps immensely with my rheumatoid arthritis pain. I know this because I became ill and couldn't get to the doctor for my blood tests, so I ran out of my methotrexate, and my pain increased dramatically."

• Sad...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 26, 2022

"In August 2021, my wife was complaining of a sore throat, then a blistered mouth, then I noticed a blistered lip. She couldn't connect that with the methotrexate that she had been taking for nearly 15 years. In the next month, she spent 11 days in the hospital as they tried to analyze her immune system breakdown. One of the options was to test for blood cancer, but ultimately, the diagnosis was toxicity from methotrexate. My wife now is quite sick as the doctors are continuing to test for kidney function and other issues. She is finding her health issues very debilitating."

• Jon...
• February 3, 2016

"Been taking MTX, folic and Plaquenil for 1.5 years. My biggest side effect is lack of appetite. Not sure if it is the MTX or Plaquenil causing this, but as a result, I feel I have no energy or muscle mass left. I wonder whether it is better to take the drugs or let the RA run its course. History of cancer in the family, but not seeing any reference to that side effect here."

• Kat...
• October 23, 2016

"I was put on methotrexate by my specialist. I was on it for 3 months and had many side effects. I informed my specialist, who said it would pass and doubled my dose. I had 14 side effects and constantly had an upset stomach. I'm 28, so the whole not being able to get pregnant while on the drug is a bit of an issue. I am now on a new medication."

• hea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 1, 2017

"Methotrexate made me sick for days after taking it. I was on it off and on for 7 years and in different ways, and all made me sick. If you're not in school or have kids, yeah, it's cool, it kind of works if you don't have RA bad, but if in school or have kids, DON'T TAKE."

• Kes...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 20, 2016

"I have taken methotrexate for 4 years now, and only when I was put on Humira did I get any relief. The side effects I have had are depression and sweating, but hardly any stiffness and not much discomfort, so for me, the combination works for me."

• RA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2016

"Had a terrible experience with this drug. I would never take it again. This drug made me severely depressed to the point of suicidal thoughts. It also gave me a tight feeling in my throat. I also learned that it could potentially create birth defects if you were to reproduce while on the drug. I would recommend using a different option."

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2023

"I am an 85-year-old black male. I have been using it now for 12 weeks, and it has eliminated the pain and swelling in my right knee completely. The ailment had persisted for many years, as a result of prior military service and a total of 50 years of aircraft maintenance prior to the prescribing by my rheumatologist. So far, there have been no side effects. I will see the doctor soon and ask about adjusting or terminating the current usage/dosage. The current dosage is six 2.5 mg tablets once a week. I made a practice of taking it every Sunday night prior to bed."