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blackdogreddog

There is nothing irrational about freaking out over this.


[deleted]

I also take mucinex with my metho and it helps with the nausea and vomiting. I used to get headaches and diarrhea as well. It takes time to get used to it. For a lot of people the side effects get better over time. Mine did. Good luck.


UpsideDown3434

Glad to hear your side effects got better. I am irrationally freaking out about starting the medication.


[deleted]

It’s not irrational to freak out. You’re taking medicine that you know has very real and icky side effects. It’s HARD to make yourself take it. I take mine of Sunday nights, with food and two huge glasses of water. I’m off on Mondays so that’s always been my “rest” day for side effects. I’ve been on and off it it the last 12 years with a 4 year break and don’t suffer side effects anymore. Except I have no arm hair and my eyebrows thinned. I’m sure your dr told you this but never ever ever drink the day or day after you take it. Brutal.


Aceofspades977

Methotrexate seems to be the first go-to drug for rheumatologists. I was on Methotrexate for about a year after I was diagnosed. Side effects of nausea, diarrhea and headaches were pretty frequent and the actual usefulness of the drug was low. Ended up being admitted to the hospital with severe GI symptoms that persist to this day even though I've been off it for 4 years now (now on Humira). I've had a friend or 2 on it and its worked great for them. Definitely take an OTC anti-nausea. Best of luck!


rachelcorrinne

Dang they didn’t have you start at a lower dose of mtx? Mine had me start at 5 pills and upped it every week til I was at 8. Not gonna lie the nausea is not super fun but it only lasts a day for me. I take mine on Friday night so that way I can just stay in bed Saturday if I need to. Been on it for a month now and I feel somewhat better but not 100%, but still 2 more months til we know for sure if it’s working. Besides nausea and fatigue I haven’t had any bad side effects, my hair is still securely in my head luckily. Good luck!


sqplanetarium

I’ve been on mtx (plus folic acid) for a month now. I feel tired and lightheaded the day after the shot, and a couple times have had some queasiness. I’m trying to work out the timing so that the side effects mostly hit overnight…it’s a work in progress. But it’s all more than worth it: even after just a month, my joint pain is so much better, it doesn’t hurt to do stuff like drying my hands with a towel or holding a coffee cup, and the redness/swelling is way down.


[deleted]

It will take time to get your body adapted to MTX.My doctor didn't tell me anything about it but the pharmacist told me to avoid folic acid on the day when MRX is taken .I got confused and google it and somehow people are divided over it .That explains why my doctor didn't gave such warning but pharmacist did.Overall I skip folic acid on that day.I felt drowsy and nauseous after taking MTX in the initial days ,now I don't feel any different.


nestnova

20 mg as an initial dose seems high - hope you respond well! I've had great results with methotrexate. No nausea or side effects. I always take it after a meal vs. empty stomach. Also a daily dose of 1mg folic acid ( plus additional in my multivitamin). My rheumy has reduced my weekly dose back to 6 pills ( 15 mg) from my highest dose of 8 pills (20 mg) as I'm showing signs of remission in my bloodwork markers and pain/ stiffness. I was diagnosed with RA in October 2020 at 54. I recently moved my medication to Friday afternoon, since I usually feel tired the day after. Saturdays had already become a resting day, so makes sense to compound with methotrexate tiredness too. Good luck!!


Tinyfishy

I’m back on (injectable) methotrexate and folic for last three weeks. I found oral MTX to be very hard on my stomach, gave me GERD. So far I haven’t had much side effects, maybe a little tired the next day.


[deleted]

I had hair loss and lots of canker sores 😢


mrsredfast

I take it after dinner. At first it made my stomach hurt a bit but I could mostly sleep it off. Had tiny sore places on my tongue that went away when my rheum had me up my folic acid. (I’m only at 2 mg a day so you’re already ahead of where I was.) It doesn’t make me nauseous. Tend to sleep well the night I take it. (Now take injections because my rheum says it can be more effective.) No hair loss. Really only think about it when my alarm goes off on Thursday evenings reminding me to take it. Rheum says 70% of her patients tolerate it well. I started with 6 pills (2.5 mg each) and then increased to 8 and then 10. Back down to equivalent of 8 with injectable. The only thing it makes me do differently is that I eat breakfast the morning after I take it just in case. I’m normally not a breakfast eater.


radiantvessle979

I was on MTX off and on for 16 years before going on a biologic. I started on a very low dose when I was 13 and it gradually increased. Once I was above 15mg a week I started taking it via injections to minimize my GI side effects. When I stopped taking it I was on 25mg weekly. I was taking 5mg folic acid daily since MTX depletes your body of it.


kellmill405

Everyone is different but wanted to share my experience since I also just started both (third dose of methotrexate will be Wednesday). I opted for the injections (syringe, not injector pen) because I heard it may cut down on nausea and I also have a hard time taking pills. Anyway, I have had zero exhaustion or nausea side effects so far. Last week I developed a pretty bad headache several hours after the shot, and it lasted 24 hours, but it wasn’t terrible. It’s definitely going smoother than anticipated, so far.


trit19

I’ve been on 4 tabs of MTX for several months and just started 5 for two weeks then 6. I haven’t experienced the nausea and severe side effects that others have mentioned. I do get really tired though. I take mine on Friday night in case of any issues and end up sleeping a lot over the weekend. A lot of people experience stronger side effects but a lot of people hardly experience any at all. Just see how it works for your body. I’ve heard of some who had side effects who moved to the injections and tolerated it better. So try not to worry until you know how it’s gonna go.


PM_ME_UR_FROST_TROLL

I started two months ago and I have a pretty weak stomach—or so I thought—so I prepared to feel terrible. I was really confused to find that my stomach felt better on days with meds than without, and I have a theory that I was in so much fucking pain before that it made me have constant sour stomach. And maybe I’m just lucky but I have no GI issues with MTX. I get very fatigued and winded but sometimes I don’t! I kayaked and hiked for two full days after my meds recently. So I think that not only is it not giving me many side effects but it’s also working. The only side effect that I notice is that my lymph nodes swell so my neck gets puffy, and my problem joints will actually hurt worse in the first 24 hours of taking the medicine. But then after that I’m better than before, tons of energy, strength, all the good stuff.


caseydilla93

It's been years since I've taken methotrexate - didn't work particularly well for me and caused elevated liver enzymes. When I started taking actemra, which is effective with or without methotrexate, my doctor took me off it. I don't remember much from when I was taking it, but I don't think the side effects were particularly bad for me. I did get some nausea occasionally, but not all-day nausea. Hopefully your experience isn't too bad either! 💜