Methotrexate for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews (Page 5)

• DJM
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 23, 2023

"I was diagnosed with RA 2 years ago. My rheumatologist put me on leflunamide (spelling) first. I had bad side effects from it (weakness, vomiting after every meal, dizzy, exhaustion, and more), but she kept me on it for 4 months. Then she put me on methotrexate injection. When I started methotrexate, I had pain levels at 9-10, had lost 90% mobility, had to use a shower chair & still had to rest afterward, and I was almost bedridden. 18 months after starting on methotrexate, my pain levels are 2-3, mobility loss is 30%, & regained a lot of flexibility. I was in such bad shape before methotrexate that my muscles had atrophied. Now I I’m up to 15-minute walks every day, and I’ve started with mild exercises. I’m still not in as good shape as before getting RA but I’m doing much better. I’m not thrilled that I have to give myself injections, but I’m told the injections don’t tend to cause gastrointestinal problems."

• 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 on every Sunday night prior to bed.,"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 11, 2017

"MTX stopped my periods although hormonal test shows no onset of menopause (age 53). Blurry vision (garlands) for 30' after intake (6 tablets). Sickness sometimes for up to 24 hours. Joint pain is increased for two to three days. Effect is moderate, must add Actemra. TNF inhibitors largely without effect."

• Guinea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 29, 2023

"I ended up getting mouth sores so painful, that I couldn't eat anything due to the constant burning. I lost 7 pounds in a week. I also ended up with a skin rash with blistering and peeling on my privates that resulted in extreme itching and burning after my skin blistered and peeled. It hurt every time I moved and has lasted over a week now. If I was sexually involved recently, I would have sworn it was some sort of STD. Not very happy with what the drug has caused me upon my first week trying it. I am requesting a new drug."

• Susan
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 13, 2021

"My Rheumatologist prescribed methotrexate for me and I had been on it for about 10 years. It helped with less pain, and better movement of my joints. Then he moved and I got a new dr. he said it was just the weather, and I did not have arthritis at all, and stopped my pills. Then about 4-5 months later, joints started hurting, and now I have nodules in my hands, bone spurs in my knees, and hip pain too. I found a new dr. he has put me back on methotrexate and took x-rays of my joints, which the other dr never did labs or xrays, just said I looked like I didn't have arthritis. Good to find a dr that helps. and one that listens"

• Jules
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2021

"This drug has had devastating results for me and I found this drug so scary it should absolutely take off the market. After starting it, not more than two weeks of taking it, I noticed mental instability and immediately stopped. I was never warned about any related major medical complications. All I was told to watch for was psychosis which I’d told them had been an issue w similar drugs. I was never warned about lung toxicity, that RA patients can develop RA-ILA. At the moment I’m waiting to have one final chest CT to compare with one a month ago. I had reoccurring pulmonary complications where I’d been hospitalized, several ER visits. Never told about folic deficiency and even after I had poor liver function my physicians never mentioned that, my low blood cell count or the pulmonary complications being possibly related. Or the GI complications. And why would they? That would acknowledge their liability. I then was giving another med with some same related issues."

• Connie
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 9, 2023

"I have been taking 7 tablets of methotrexate (2.5 mg each tablet) at one time, as a once-a-week dosage for RA, for years now. I take Rx Leucovorin tablets 8 hours after the methotrexate dose. It prevents side effects like hair loss and nausea. I have a blood test every 90 days. This dosage seems to prevent severe bone damage. I have still had bone nodules and spurs that required surgery. The surgery and physical therapy helped tremendously. If I increase the methotrexate dosage, it will mean more frequent blood tests and more side effects. As it is, I feel very fatigued and sleepy the next day after the weekly dose. I still have some pain, but not as much. I find it helpful to take a mucus cough tablet when I take the methotrexate dose. And when I take the Leucovorin (8 hours after taking the methotrexate), I take a 5 mg tablet of prednisone."

• Maria
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2023

"I haven't felt the complete effect yet, but it was prescribed, along with Humira and Arava, because of the severity of the pain. Some side effects that are quite bothersome for me now are rash, pinpoint red dots, and bad itchiness on my legs and arms."

• San
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 12, 2022

"Hi I have been on methotrexate now for 16 years for my RA when I first got it. 20mgs each Saturday. been on enbrel intercept biological 50 mg injectable with it on Thursdays and Arava Leflunomide 20mg tab each Monday Wednesday and Friday with a folic acid tab on wed. I started feeling very sick of a day about 2 years ago and have been told I now have LIVER FIBROSIS ie scarring GRADE 3 didn’t know ever had gde 1 which is bordering on next step being CIRHOSIS of the liver. Extremely extremely upset. Why wasn’t this picked up by my routine monthly blood tests?????? (Which is what their done for to keep an eye on your organs etc). Once your liver has gone that’s “IT”. I am so very disappointed as it looks like (a). I either stop taking it and will be in a wheelchair with a very scarred on its way out liver). OR keep taking it killing myself Through my Now Damaged permanently Liver."

• restrec
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 1, 2021

"My husband was on this drug for about 18 months and it became the worst times of our life. We had been told it had minimal side effects but his depression became debilitating and the tiredness and hopelessness overwhelming. His health got worse and he ended up having to leave his job. Luckily when he stopped taking it he started to improve after two weeks. There was no serious withdrawal from it."

• Misa
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 9, 2021

"53years old diagnosed in 2010 with RA Prior to taking this was taking Plaquenil 400mg and Prednisone 5mg daily. Had to discontinue the Plaquenil (5-2021) due to constant lower GI bleeding and diarrhea. I've been on MTX 25mg (6×2.5mg) once per week and it is helping. I had been in near constant flares after getting Covid (6-2021) and had so much pain and stiffness that I cried any time I had to move around. Now I only flare once maybe twice a week, or if I over do it. I do have some side effects, fatigue (up two days after dose) but a few short naps help, a little nausea (I found six smaller meals and saltines helped with it.) The biggest one I had was hair loss, during dose week three. My scalp got really itchy and felt really dry and tight, so I wet my hair thinking it was just dry and was just going to wash it after. Nope, about 50% of it fell out as soon as it was wet, which was a bit of a shock, but it's slowly growing back. Small prices to pay to be almost flare free and have mobility back."

• Meg
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 24, 2023

"Dosage 10mg weekly. It is impossible for me to comment on side effects as I have other conditions that can cause side effects like many of those listed above. I have an excellent rheumatologist who is guiding me through this experience. At the moment, the graphs he produces from my regular blood tests are what I rely on for how the RA is reacting to the methotrexate. When he smiled and claps his hands, I do too."

• Zed
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 11, 2022

"I have been on methotrexate for 3 years now. Before I started taking the drug I had RA for 5 years untreated and every day was a nightmare. I would get flare ups on both my shoulders, wrists,k nees and worst of all was all over my neck. Every day I was in a lot of pain and I had tried numerous different treatments that did nothing. After starting methotrexate I noticed a massive difference in how much my neck and other flare ups were reduced and it really helped me a lot to get my life back. I have not had it perfect though I do get side effects. I get an itchy rash when I take it on my arms and ankles which is not great and bothersome. It's also affected my liver and I had to reduce my dose down to 7.5 per week. The 7.5 dose still helps and my liver readings have been okay for the last 6 months but the rash has came back bad. I would recommend methotrexate but I understand it does not work for everyone."

• Linda
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 16, 2023

"Started with oral methotrexate but due to abdominal distress, the doctor switched to subcutaneous (sub q) weekly injections. As time went by, I developed diarrhea with abdominal pain, chills at times, fatigue, mouth ulcers, itching, and brain fog. I have an appointment with the doctor on the 24th, and I am currently on 0.6ml subcutaneous."

• Celeb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 5, 2023

"I have been taking it for 3 years. There seems to be very little difference in the pain. I am losing hair at a great rate, and my constant cough makes me sound like a plaque victim. Definitely not certain it is the right drug for me."

• Biodun...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 24, 2023

"I took 3 tablets every week with folic acid every day along with prednisone. I noticed that after taking this combination for almost one month, the RA reduced drastically for almost 2 months. However during harmattan (rainy season) the swelling and pain are more pronounced."

• MDB
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2021

"Methotrexate, 15 mg injections, Helped tremendously with degeneration of joints, stiffness and pain but has debilitating profound fatigue. I take 5 mg of folic acid a day and even have added post injection Leucovorin. With no reduction of fatigue, and brain fog/ short term memory loss. Taking for several months along with prednisone and hydroxychlorquin, I am surprised the company, Pfizer, has not by now found something to help with this."

• Garry...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2023

"I take methotrexate once a week, I've been taking it for 3 months. I have somewhat of a rash, nothing bad. I'm also short of breath a little, I have COPD. Also dark stools, but I take iron every other day, I've been on prednisone for 3 years. Because my primary Dr thought I had polymyalgia rheumatic. I don't have a lot of pain like I did. I'm still on 5mg of prednisone, I'm having a nuclear stress test next month, I'm not sure if I need to stop it before the test. I don't feel too bad, I quess the medication is working. Thank You for listening."

• Aub
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 12, 2023

"My absolute miracle drug. I had an allergic reaction to Humira, Cosentyx, and Stelara, and this has been a holy grail. My psoriasis was horrible before. I’d constantly get infections, and almost all of my hair fell out due to psoriasis. I’ve been on methotrexate now for about 7 or 8 months, and my psoriasis is almost completely gone. My only side effects I’d say are after I take it, I’m tired, and my stomach sometimes hurts, as well as occasional muscle cramps (not sure if these are from the methotrexate, but I didn’t get them before). I’d recommend anyone to give this a shot, especially if others haven’t worked."

• apple...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 19, 2023

"I have been taking it for 3-1/2 years; weekly self-injections. I have developed Interstitial Lung Disease, have some skin thinning, and now osteopenia. However, it certainly has helped control the RA symptoms as I have had to change medications for that dx. Are these symptoms from the methotrexate or from the RA? Rhetorical question because I do not expect that it matters as there is not much that can be done about it."

• Rob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2023

"Annoying sensitivity to light especially in the first few weeks - also tiredness. Blood counts seem to stabilise after a couple of months and after a brief (probably covid related) blip have been fine since. I found it was better to split the dose (2 - 10mg tablets) - one in the morning, one later in the day. Both times I take the tablet with a small amount of liquid and then have food a little bit later. I take it on a weekly basis, along with folic acid a few days later. It has been effective in controlling rheumatoid symptoms, which had been getting worse."

• spice...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 18, 2023

"Took MTX at moderate/higher doses for 6 months with folic acid. GI side effects were terrible--mostly diarrhea and resulted in terrible fluid loss/electrolyte issues. It did not help my RA. I lost 50% of my hair by about 6 months. It has now been another 4 months and there is no regrowth that I can see, continued breakage and some hair fall. I read that the follicle gets damaged and old hair falls out and new hair growth is not healthy and breaks off near the scalp. Takes a long time to repair follicles. Luckily I had a lot of hair but it's getting scary. Overall I had a poor experience."

• Debod...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 3, 2023

"It’s given me back my life, but only works for me on the highest dose (25mg) by me to inject. I flare when cut to 22.5mg. I am so grateful for this drug. Without it, I’m in agony. With it, I can live a normal life."

• Tenne...
• June 18, 2009

"After almost 3 years of usage, and refining the dosage, I feel better at 65 years old than I did at 50."

• Swoll...
• November 6, 2020

"I have been on methotrexate for almost two months now for RA. I was petrified to take it but so glad I did now. I am feeling a lot better and I have NO side effects. Wishing you the best!"