Methotrexate and Pain: What Users Say

• mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "My family doctor and rheumatoid specialists both suggested Methotrexate for my RA. I read several sites and decided I would find my own way without this terrible drug. I went to India for Ayurvedic treatment, and as of today, not quite 2 years later, I have no pain, I have not suffered any side effects from this drug, and I can function normally. It pains me to see the accounts of people whose lives have been ruined by Methotrexate. There is a safer, easier (and less expensive in the long run) way to handle arthritis. Medical doctors will cringe to read this, but I'm living proof!!"

• TPC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2015

For Psoriasis "I was diagnosed with severe advanced plaque psoriasis in Dec 2014. I was 60% covered when I first went to my dermatologist. By the end of Mar 2015, after trying one ointment after another, I was 95% covered, in pain (felt like 3rd-degree sunburn), the itching was like a million fire ant bites 24/7. I couldn't lay down or sleep. The doctor started me on Methotrexate in May. Within 6 weeks, I was totally clear and still am (10/18/15). I take 2-2.5mg tablets Mon AM & again Mon PM then 1 Tues AM for a total of 12.5 mg a weekly. I also take 1-1mg Folic Acid every day. I go in for follow-ups and blood work every 3 months but I'm fine now... thanks to Methotrexate."

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

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Just taken my third dose of methotrexate this week (upped to 20mg after 2 weeks on 10mg)... take folic acid 5mg 3x a 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 I am now able to do the things I used to take for granted again. Feel hopeful about this medicine."

• Jen...
• June 2, 2015

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been on Methotrexate 25mg for 6 weeks now, but 6 months 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 lose handfuls of hair daily, and the GI problems sometimes are pretty bad. So I don't know if the side effects outweigh the benefits. I wish I could have someone help me fix these side effects, and I would be okay. I think the fatigue is one of the worst though. :("

• Anonymous
• March 1, 2012

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been taking the medication since 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 too 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."

• Anonymous
• November 15, 2011

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been taking this medicine since June and recently increased my dose. This medication has not worked for me at all. I continue to have pain and swelling in my wrist and fingers. The only thing that works for me is prednisone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2019

For Psoriatic Arthritis "Was on methotrexate for 5 months for Psoriatic Arthritis (PA). The drug completely cleared my skin but did not help at all with joint inflammation. Pain increased while on the drug, and x-rays showed my PA still progressed while taking the methotrexate. My fatigue significantly worsened while on this drug, to the point that I was struggling to do basic day-to-day tasks. The doctor took me off methotrexate and put me on Humira, and I feel much better in regard to pain and fatigue, although some small psoriasis patches are coming back."

• wen...
• September 11, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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."

• Lag...
• October 25, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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."

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

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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!"

• Emm...
• January 18, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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."

• Spa...
• January 23, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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."

• Aus...
• February 12, 2016

For Psoriasis "On methotrexate for 20 years, no issues with liver function. Otezla worked much better, but insurance refused to cover it, back on metho. Psoriasis since age 7, psoriatic arthritis since 40s. Now 54. Increased metho from 10 mg/week to 15 mg/week, pain and scaling more severe. New patches around my eyes, lids are swollen, painful, and itchy. Eyes constantly dry, red, painful, itchy - might have psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis in them, going back to rheumatologist and an ophthalmologist for help. OTC allergy eye drops, soothing drops, and nightly administration of Vaseline in/around eyes not alleviating condition. Very sore all over, sunny weather alleviates the patches and joint/tendon pain. Can't wait to sunbathe! No biologics, cancer scare."

• Jka...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 28, 2019

For Psoriasis "I have suffered from psoriasis for about 12 years but had a serious bout of arthritis 2 years before that, so psoriatic arthritis. Was able to stay away from chemicals for years, managed using supplements, but it carried on spreading. Finally referred to a dermatologist and was on cyclosporine for over a year, had to come off due to effect on gums and high BP, which was controlled with tablets. On methotrexate since October, no nausea, etc., but had lots of urine issues in the beginning, which I later realized was actually due to too much folic acid. Lowered the folic acid dose, and it was sorted. Recently realized that my joints and muscles have been hurting since I started methotrexate. Painful feet, legs, etc., affecting my everyday exercise routines, so will be speaking to a dermatologist about it in about two weeks."

• Sus...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 13, 2021

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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 doctor. 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, my joints started hurting, and now I have nodules in my hands, bone spurs in my knees, and hip pain too. I found a new doctor. He has put me back on methotrexate and took X-rays of my joints, which the other doctor never did. Labs or X-rays just said I looked like I didn't have arthritis. Good to find a doctor that helps and one that listens."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2019

For Psoriasis "I was just diagnosed with psoriasis about 2 months ago. I tried all kinds of creams and ointments, put my feet in Saran Wrap when I went to sleep. Nothing seems to work. It's on the bottom of my feet and my hands. My hands are scaly, dry, and cracked, and my hands hurt all the time. My feet are dry and cracked with scales all over them, mostly, it hurts my heels when I walk. The doctor put me on this medication and with folic acid too. I've been on it a week now, haven't seen any results yet, still in a lot of pain. Hope it works."

• Dam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 24, 2020

For Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis "I was officially diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) at 14, and they put me on methotrexate. I experienced more pain on it than not, and the reaction it had with my nervous system had my stomach churning and me sitting in the bathroom in case I got physically sick from it (which ended up happening a few times)."

• val...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2015

For Ectopic Pregnancy "Ectopic pregnancy, 11 weeks. Was not warned about the side effects other than I would have cramping and pain. Day 1 after methotrexate not too bad, definitely nauseous and lower back cramping, then toward the end of day 2 and days 3 and 4 I felt like I had been hit by a truck. Terrible nausea, felt like my body was made of lead, no strength, no energy, strong labor-like pain and all-over malaise."

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

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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."

• Aso...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2021

For Ectopic Pregnancy "Very bad experience after taking 2 doses of methotrexate, always in pain, weakness, my blood level also goes down. After 1 month, I got severe pain, and my fallopian tube ruptured. After that, the doctor did my surgery. I was going through 2 procedures. Methotrexate was more painful than surgery."

• chr...
• November 4, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Methotrexate - don't take it, full stop. Leflunomide - don't take that either! I'm now about 38 kg. Doctors are hopeless, and I feel like life is dissipating out of me in front of my children. You can't help yourself on methotrexate, as you don't know what you're doing. It's like autopilot, surviving not living, and you're still in pain. Better to eat no gluten, no dairy, no nightshades. Look up what causes inflammation. Rest, eat well, make love, laugh, dance, don't stress, have good people around you. Love yourself. My daughter lost her first baby at birth two years ago. Now her mom may go before her grandmother. So sad, as I found a nice man, finally good people, friends around me, and isn't it the way. Then you die at 46."

• Pat...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 26, 2023

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I do not know if this is related, but I have pain in both feet, hard walking. Just started about a month ago."

• Anonymous
• January 4, 2011

For Ectopic Pregnancy "Felt like the top of my head was sore and got electrical sensations throughout the spot, on the top of my head, 2 days after injection and worsening on the 3rd day of the injection."