methotrexate , first dose

Hi all. I posted asking for info about the use of methotrexate. Since not a lot of people replied I thought I'd update after taking it. I took my first dose last night. I took two 2.5 mg tablets around 7:30 last night with a lite snack and a big glass of water. I researched a lot about the use of this med. and a lot of people reported feeling sick and exhausted the first few days but I am happy to say that other than being a little tired I feel pretty good for me. I think it helps that I've been taking the folic acid (800mg) that my doc. suggested since Monday. Hopefully this stuff helps and I stop flaring every couple of weeks.

Great for you! I hope it really helps you.

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Joy
Lupus, RA, Fibromyalgia, Glaucoma, Asthma, Hypothyriodism, Sleep Apnea, Depression, Allergies, diabetes, and benign familia tremors

When life throws you lemons....
Pick them up and throw them right back at them! :))

Hi BreRosie. Thank you for the update. I'm not certain, but I think that it took a while (weeks?) before methotrexate relieved my symptoms. I didn't have any noticeable side effects. It's good to hear that your first dose went well! Hopefully your flares will be under control soon. Love, Butterflake

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SLE '05, Sjogren's, Fibro, Raynaud's, major depressive disorder, CVID (Common Variable Immunodeficiency), Hypertension, Osteoporosis, CNS problems, GERD, angina, 1st stage kidney disease. Many meds: better living through chemistry

Thanks Ladies! I'm really hoping that this stuff works. Next week I get to tapper my pred. dose down from 10mg to 7.5 and then hopefully lower it some more. I loathe being on it but it HELPS so much. I hope everyone is doing well!!!

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Thyroid disease 2015, Lupus and Sjogrens July 2016 and Fibro October 2016
I'm Just gonna keep on smilling

Hi BreRosie. Many (if not most) of us are in the love/hate relationship with prednisone!

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SLE '05, Sjogren's, Fibro, Raynaud's, major depressive disorder, CVID (Common Variable Immunodeficiency), Hypertension, Osteoporosis, CNS problems, GERD, angina, 1st stage kidney disease. Many meds: better living through chemistry

Unfortunately I am very familiar with it. My 12 yr old has been on it for most of her life. She is currently on 40mg/ 20mg everyother day taappering from a 40 mg every day dose. This stuff is magic for short term use but awful in the long term.

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Thyroid disease 2015, Lupus and Sjogrens July 2016 and Fibro October 2016
I'm Just gonna keep on smilling

I started mex. Tuesday evening. I took 3 2.5 mg tablets. I have been taking folic acid as well. I am happy to say to nauseousness for me. I do feel extremely tired and have been taking naps a lot since then. No pain relief yet but it takes a while from what I have read. I hope it works!!!!!!!

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Lisa
Ulcerative Colitis (remission) on lilada
Reflux on dexilant
Recently low positive ana and now on plaquinal

Hey Lisabeans, I'm glad it went well for you too!!!! Cheers to feeling better soon!

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Thyroid disease 2015, Lupus and Sjogrens July 2016 and Fibro October 2016
I'm Just gonna keep on smilling

I hope this works for both of us. Wish we could find a way to make everyone out there pain free.

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Lisa
Ulcerative Colitis (remission) on lilada
Reflux on dexilant
Recently low positive ana and now on plaquinal

How is the met working for you? Just took my 4th dose last night. Seems like I have no pain relief yet or maybe very little relief. I do get sick thrthe morning after the pills for a few hours but then it passes. Hopefully you are getting better results.

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Lisa
Ulcerative Colitis (remission) on lilada
Reflux on dexilant
Recently low positive ana and now on plaquinal

So far I haven't noticed much of a change. I still feel crappy a lot but its not as bad as its been in the past. I haven't gotten sick at all from it. Lately I''ve been having trouble sleeping. I go to sleep just fine but I keep waking up anywhere from 2am -4 am. Its been going on for 2 wks, I'm exhausted. Even when I try to nap I'll only stay asleep for 45 minutes or less. I've never had trouble sleeping before. I don't know if its from the mtx or the prednisone or something else.

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Thyroid disease 2015, Lupus and Sjogrens July 2016 and Fibro October 2016
I'm Just gonna keep on smilling

How much prednisone are you on? It definitely can mess with your sleep if you are taking more than 10 mg for a while.

A lot of us end up asking the Dr about it, and it's fairly common to get some sort of prescription "sleep aid". Remember that sleep is an important part of the healing process, and it's really important to sleep, so don't be shy about asking for more information about the cause of sleeplessness and possible remedies.

I've been taking Trazodone for a while now... a long while. I feel SO MUCH BETTER - 8-10 hours of deep restorative sleep is a must for Lupus patients!!

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Lynnwood, Lupus & Sjogren's Moderator, Dx: 2000
DIAGNOSING LUPUS & HW's LUPUS 101
"Life is far too important to be taken seriously." - Oscar Wilde

Hi Lynnwood. I'm Taking 7.5 of pred. daily right now. I was on 10mg for a maybe 6 wks? and have been on 7.5 for a week. I'm going to see my doc. in early Dec. and if this is still going on I'm going to take your advice and say something because I need sleep! He had me on Gabapenten (sp?) for pain. I told him I didn't think it was working so he raised it from 200 mg to 300 mg. I stopped taking it all together. I'm a less is more type of lady. I have no problem taking stuff if I need it but if I don't or its not working then I don't see the point. I stopped taking it around the same time as the pred dose was raised to 10mg. Maybe I'll add the gabapenten back in and see if that helps. I just need to stay asleep.

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Thyroid disease 2015, Lupus and Sjogrens July 2016 and Fibro October 2016
I'm Just gonna keep on smilling

I have been waking up more at night the past week until last night. Hopefully it is a fluke for me. I hope you figure yours out so you can get sleep. I have to make sure my liver counts are still normal. Once it seems normal on this medication, I may ask to add plaquanel back in. I really do need more relief than I am getting. Raising 4 kids, working and having my husband with health issues is too much for me to handle. I have found myself very sad the past few weeks. I know there are so many out there worse off than me and I should be thankful that I can still function. I just feel like I am not enjoying life at all. Sorry to vent. Hope everyone else is having a better day!

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Lisa
Ulcerative Colitis (remission) on lilada
Reflux on dexilant
Recently low positive ana and now on plaquinal

Hi Lisabeans. I too often feel silly for complaining when I know that so many are struggling so much more than I am. I do think its ok to feel bad though. I find that I'm mourning the loss of the old me. I think that is the hardest pill to swallow. There are times I feel pretty good and its certainly been better than it was before the doc's figured out what was wrong and started treatment but its not the same. I used to always be doing something (taking walks, cleaning, playing with my kids, baking) my husband used to joke that I had caffeine in my veins . Now going grocery shopping is exhausting. ;0) All of it , life, can be overwhelming. I hope you and your husband get relief from your health issues. I added the gabapentin back in last night and I slept all night! I feel so much better this morning. My doc still has me taking 400 mg of hydroxychloroquine. Why did yours have you stop?

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Thyroid disease 2015, Lupus and Sjogrens July 2016 and Fibro October 2016
I'm Just gonna keep on smilling

I will have to ask him why I had to stop the plaqunal. He is very conservative. I am looking for a new rheumotogist but haven't found any good ones so far.

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Lisa
Ulcerative Colitis (remission) on lilada
Reflux on dexilant
Recently low positive ana and now on plaquinal

Lisabeans, Mine has me on 400mg of hydroxychloroquine every day ,except he had me stop taking it on Sunday and next week I stop taking it on Saturday too. I was on 200 mg for a while but he raised it up to 400mg a few months ago after another bad flare. Now he says he wants to cut it back. He said the 400mg is to much for how much I weigh. Maybe he's going to take me off of it as well? I guess I'll ask him when I see him in Dec. I just took my fourth dose of the mtx on Friday. I think I'm shedding more hair. I could just be paranoid. Have you or anyone else noticed this? Its like when I my thyroid was messed up or after you have a baby.

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Thyroid disease 2015, Lupus and Sjogrens July 2016 and Fibro October 2016
I'm Just gonna keep on smilling

My hair has been falling out more too. I feel like s shedding dog! Plus my nose and cheeks have been slightly red and I have been getting sick in stores with flourscent lights.

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Lisa
Ulcerative Colitis (remission) on lilada
Reflux on dexilant
Recently low positive ana and now on plaquinal

Lisa, have you seen the uv ray protective clothing at coolibar.com?

Florescent lighting is just as bad as sunlight to me. l have to wear my special clothing anytime I leave the house so I don't get sicker by the uv rays given off by florescent lighting or sunlight.

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Joy
Lupus, RA, Fibromyalgia, Glaucoma, Asthma, Hypothyriodism, Sleep Apnea, Depression, Allergies, diabetes, and benign familia tremors

When life throws you lemons....
Pick them up and throw them right back at them! :))

Joy,
Thanks. I have but did not think of wearing any. I actually was doing better with lighting on the sulfasalazine so I did not think. My kids tease me when I wear my cowboy hat to Target!

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Lisa
Ulcerative Colitis (remission) on lilada
Reflux on dexilant
Recently low positive ana and now on plaquinal

I wear a cloth bucket hat like Gilligan on Gilligan's island. Ha-ha!

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Joy
Lupus, RA, Fibromyalgia, Glaucoma, Asthma, Hypothyriodism, Sleep Apnea, Depression, Allergies, diabetes, and benign familia tremors

When life throws you lemons....
Pick them up and throw them right back at them! :))

Sexy! Lol

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Lisa
Ulcerative Colitis (remission) on lilada
Reflux on dexilant
Recently low positive ana and now on plaquinal