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Experience with Methotrexate?
Hello, I have been on 20 mg of Prednisone for about 2 months and at my next Rheumatologist check-up this week, my doctor is going to talk to me about the option to add Methotrexate on top of the Prednisone. Has anyone tried this? Any success? Any advise? Seems like another strong drug to have to worry about the side effects. Wondering if it's worth it.
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I am currently on 2.5 mg of Methotrexate / 6 tablets 1 day a week -- I am also on 5 mg of Prednisone -- The RA doctor wants to eventually eliminate the Prednisone ---------- the RA doctor and my family doctor both stated it is very important to take a Folic Acid tablet every day -- I currently take 1 mg of Folic ------------- I have been on the Methotrexate since the 1st of January 2022 - so far - so good
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8 ReactionsI would recommend you try the Methotrexate. I did not do well on it but if I had done well I might be off of the steroids. Take a chance.
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3 ReactionsIf I were you I would take a chance on the Methotrexate I did not do well on it but if I had I might be off the steroids by now.
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2 ReactionsWere you taking the Folic Acid ??
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1 ReactionYes, I did take Folic acid
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1 ReactionI'm on the methotrexate 2.5= 8 tablets a week with prednisone 5.5 mg. I felt pretty good, and when I went up to the max methotrexate at 10 tabs, I felt 20 years younger (I am 69). WOW! Unfortunately I ended up with thrush (candida) and a tongue ulcer, so I took the medication for thrush and backed down to the 8 tabs. I won't forget how good I felt, though. I am doing pretty well with the 8 tabs and backed down to 5mg prednisone. Hoping to slowly back off the prednisone, and then the methotrexate. Who knows. Judy
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6 Reactions@wv54 -It is necessary and important to take Folic Acid the other six days of the week because Methotrexate affects your red blood cell count - or something to that effect. I took 5mg. Folic Acid a day.
I was on Methotrexate and Folic Acid for my psoriasis and it worked great - cleared it all - but unfortunately I was not allowed to stay on it long term because I have Fatty Liver Disease and Methotrexate can have an adverse effect if taken long term.
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2 ReactionsExactly right! Who knows?
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1 ReactionThe Folic I'm taking is 1 mg ------ the RA doctor hasn't mentioned the future --- she is at the Methotrexate + Folic + 5 mg of Prednisone for now ------ she mentioned eliminating all Prednisone but didn't say when ??
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1 ReactionThank you so much for sharing. Other than needing the folic acid, were you told of any negative side effects from Methotrexate, like hair loss? I'm worried that this is a chemo drug. I will find out more tomorrow when I see my RA doctor.