Methotrexate and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• wri...
• August 7, 2015

For Psoriasis "I started methotrexate in September 2014 as my body was 75% covered with psoriasis, and I had tried every topical/light treatment going. The drug worked wonders, and I couldn't believe how my skin was clearing up. By Jan/Feb, I'm actually wearing dresses without tights and short sleeves (especially at work, which I'd never done before). The only downside was that the day after I took methotrexate, I felt so tired. I've ended up having days off work because of it. I decided to come off it in about May 2015 and am now waiting to try a new drug, Adalimumab (spelling!?) and my skin has come back worse from methotrexate. I'm in so much pain, and I'm covered in guttate :("

• Cle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2016

For Psoriatic Arthritis "Terrible experience - never again! I started taking the methotrexate on Thursday morning and felt sick for days! I'm highly sensitive to medication and was given 10 mg and 5 mg of folic acid all days except dose day. I managed to get to work the next day but was very fatigued, vague, and couldn’t function too well. I have never felt so tired as I did the weekend after and had to cancel all my plans. From Friday night, I was totally wiped out, no appetite, couldn’t stay awake, tummy ache, headache, and since Sunday, strands of hair have been falling out. My fringe/bangs thinned out, and hair kept falling out - after 1 tablet. It was a terrible experience."

• Red...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 29, 2017

For Psoriasis "Have done 3 'rounds' of this, 4 weeks each, and have never been so exhausted, sick to my stomach, and out of it. It helped clear up the guttate psoriasis and inverse psoriasis, but didn't do much for the psoriatic arthritis."

• azu...
• June 6, 2013

For Psoriasis "Just started a week ago. Was nervous regarding side effects but bit the nerves. Notice there is no flaking after one week. Although still itchy, hopefully that goes away. Just felt like I was exhausted faster but want to keep giving it a try. Tried everything else."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 17, 2017

For Psoriasis "I have been extremely tired, nauseous, a general feeling of lack of interest in things I enjoy, moody, and overall not feeling good. The psoriasis has become less thick, but after six weeks, it's still there. I have an appointment Thursday and am going to discuss alternatives."

• Aut...
• November 17, 2016

For Psoriatic Arthritis "After becoming sick with this disease, the doctor initially started me on methotrexate pills, and I developed what they call 'phantosmia'... I smelled horrible things that weren't there. So we switched to injections, and I didn't get the smells anymore. Then he started Enbrel as well. I felt good for a while and decided to stop the methotrexate because it was making me tired and weak. Two years later, I'm back on it because my back and neck were killing me, and I'm getting 60-70% relief after one shot of 0.8. Pretty happy about that, but the trade-off of sleeping all day and being weak and nauseated all reminded me of why I stopped too. But it does help, so you weigh what's important to you."

• Eve...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 2, 2021

For Scleroderma "Horrendous experience. Passing out, stomach pains, vomiting, heart palpitations, sweating, problems with concentration and speech, muscle aches, and exhaustion (sleeping all day and through the night), breathlessness, headache, irrational thoughts that worsened each week. I was sacked from my job as I couldn't function when on this drug. Doctors still keep pushing me to recommence, but I resist as I feel so much better not on this medication and continue to improve as each month passes. I had no quality of life when complying with 'treatment', at least I have a decent quality of life now (methotrexate free for over 6 months!)."

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

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was diagnosed with RA 2 years ago. My rheumatologist put me on leflunomide first. I had bad side effects from it (weakness, vomiting after every meal, dizziness, 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 and 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%, and I regained a lot of flexibility. I was in such bad shape before methotrexate that my muscles had atrophied. Now 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."

• Lee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2015

For Scleroderma "I have morphea, or what they call localized scleroderma. This condition causes red, brown, and white patches on the skin, but no other real physical symptoms, so it's very hard for me to justify staying on this medication for 3 months when it makes me feel so run down. It makes me feel cold, tired, and always like I'm coming down with something. Not sure how long I'll be able to handle these side effects."

• kim...
• March 26, 2010

For Psoriasis "I have had psoriatic arthritis since age 10. The deformities in my hands are very, very severe. I have taken methotrexate for about 6 weeks and don't notice a difference, except I have been feeling sick to my stomach, tired, and bowel movements are painful and a little blood is visible. Kinda scary-I see my rheumatologist in a few weeks. Psoriasis patches seem burning or itchier."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2023

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I have spondyloarthritis, and on this, I had some stomach symptoms at first, but that improved by the 3rd week of treatment, and I also had swelling in my hands and feet at first. Now I only feel tired for a couple of days after taking it. It's been so great for the pain that I have dealt with on and off for the last 12 years. I finally have a life again."

• res...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 1, 2021

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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 were 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."

• Ean...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 31, 2019

"My medical condition is polycondritis and Sweets Syndrome, and I have been on methotrexate for a month, and my test results are worse than before while taking it. I was originally taking dapsone, which I loved. No side effects and no restrictions! However, apparently it was lowering my blood count, and I was becoming anemic (I guess one side effect, eye roll). Anyways, ever since I started methotrexate, I have just felt awful. Always exhausted, fatigued, body muscles and joints ache, sick constantly, and just weird things that weren’t happening before. I’m seeing my rheumatologist in a few weeks, but I’m trying to get off this ASAP. I take six pills once a week and folic acid daily."

• Lef...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2021

For Psoriatic Arthritis "Taking 15 mg for a month. For me, the benefits didn't outweigh side effects. I would be so tired, didn't have the energy to do household tasks. Also had headaches, depression, felt blah, mouth sores, stomach acid, even though taking folic acid too. Both of my hands would break out in itchy blister bumps for a couple of days right after taking the dosage. Refuse to take again."

• ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2023

For Psoriatic Arthritis "My experience was terrible. I had a bad reaction to taking methotrexate. I couldn't eat, my mouth and my gums were covered in blisters, I was tired, I couldn't get out of bed for three days, and I lost my appetite-not good when you're type 1 diabetic. On day four, I had diarrhea, and I stopped taking it straight away."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 19, 2015

For Neoplastic Diseases "I am taking this for a systemic autoimmune disease. Four injections so far of 40 mg once a week, I can move around. It takes a while to start working, but it's working. The doctor said if I take this prescribed overload of folic acid, I won't lose my hair. It's chemotherapy. It makes me nauseous. It makes me tired. But so does the disease. It's giving me infections of the skin, mouth, and eyes. The doctor says that might just be because my body is one big infection fighting itself all at once."

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

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Annoying sensitivity to light, especially in the first few weeks - also tiredness. Blood counts seem to stabilize 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 - 10 mg 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."

• Cal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Made me very tired! Had no appetite."

• LNa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2018

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I hated this med! The exhaustion I experienced was completely disabling. Being in pain but awake was better than this."

• Kar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 19, 2021

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "This medication is terrible. I took it for RA, and it made me a total emotional wreck. As soon as I took it, I felt anxious and tired. Like someone ran me over with a truck. Stay away."

• Sau...
• November 2, 2020

For Psoriasis "I just take this methotrexate for 2 days of 5 mg, and I felt very tired, dizziness, and loss of appetite too. This is really not a good medicine. Don't take this, please."

• jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2023

For Psoriatic Arthritis "This is my third dose, 4 pills a week, all at one time. Not seeing any difference. Very tired the first two days, and I feel like I am losing my short-term memory."