methotrexate???

[alex_stott]

hi, i am on 17.5mg a week of methotrexate a week, i take it on a friday morning, and 8mg of steroids. but every friday as i am taking the tablets i feel sick and am physically sick but have to swallow it again otherwise te doctor said the tablets wouldn't get into my system, then at lunch time i feel sick again, and all throughout the friday afternoon. Isn't there another way of taking methotrexate, i know you can have it in injections, nut can you be taught how to do this yourself ir do you hav to go to the doctors or hospital every week? can you take it in liquid form? thanks . alex

[3forme]

I know a lovely four year old boy who takes 12.5mg of the injection form diluted in juice, he does just ducky. HOWEVER, he, like myself(at 25mg) takes it at night with a small snack.
Now, even with that , sometimes, like once every six weeks or so, I still feel :sick: . If I actually threw up, I would have to look at the injections.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!3forme

[IbeJanet]

I don't know about injectible methotrexate as all I've taken has been oral. I can say though that I am on my third month of methotrexate and I'm starting to get used to it. It used to me have nausea :sick: and flu like symptoms. I'd feel real agitated and angry. But now it just passes by almost unnoticed. I take it shortly before I go to be so that I can sleep through most of it. If it starts making me feel bad then I take xanax and all is well again. I hope things get better for you really soon! :)

[meg4340]

Alex,

I switched to injectable methotrexate early on in my treatment because of the nausea i experience from the oral meds. You can learn to give yourself the shot or teach a close friend or family member. I still have a little diarrhea sometimes with 24 of the shot...but NO severe nausea. Hope it works out for you! :)

[AnM]

Alex,

Hey. As was said u can be taight how to give yourself the injections. & many who can't take the oral b/c of the side effects of getting sick n whatnot, do very well on the injections. But, that's not saying everybody.

Some people take a little bit to get used to it, n after a few weeks the effects start to subside.
How long have u been on it? n have u recently increased your dose?

I would definitely get in touch w/ your rheumy. n let him/her know about these effects if u haven't yet. Many rheumy's do give Folic Acid to help w/ the side effects of Metho.

But, this is all individual, n u should def. let rheumy know if u are throwing up.

I also take my dose at night, a few/couple hrs. before bed. That way if there's any kind of side effect I can hopefully sleep through it. ;) & I take Folic Acid every day also.

Take care, n hope u speak to your rheumy soon, n feeel better!
Alicia :coffee: :flowers:

[bananawear]

Hi Alex- I was not able to take the methotrexate pills either so I switched to the shots at home. They were much easier - giving myself the shot was really no big deal, I just had the nurse show me how to do it the first time.

I do have to tell you though that after a few months the injections started making me sick too - so make sure you are still communcating with your dr. I started feeling like I had food poisioning, and was still sick all the time and talked my dr. and was not able to keep taking the methotrexate. That is a very rare reaction but be sure to communicate to your dr. about any side effects or reactions you get from it. Even the shots can have some side effects and that is abnormal so its important to let someone know if you experience them.

You may have to go to a compounding pharmacy to get the methotrexate injections filled because not every pharmacy carries it. My pharmacy made individual single use vials for me and that worked out great.

Good luck and take good care- Chris