1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Experience with Methotrexate?

Posted by abbeyc @abbeyc, Feb 14, 2022

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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abbeyc | @abbeyc | Feb 16, 2022
In reply to @rashida "@wv54 -It is necessary and important to take Folic Acid the other six days of the..." + (show)
@rashida

@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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Thank you for sharing. Did any other negative side effects occur from the Methotrexate, like hair loss, since it's a chemo drug?

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2 replies
abbeyc | @abbeyc | Feb 16, 2022
In reply to @tillysam "If I were you I would take a chance on the Methotrexate I did not do..." + (show)
@tillysam

If 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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Do you mind sharing why you did not do well on it? were there adverse side effects?

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abbeyc | @abbeyc | Feb 16, 2022
In reply to @judyjh "I'm on the methotrexate 2.5= 8 tablets a week with prednisone 5.5 mg. I felt pretty..." + (show)
@judyjh

I'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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Wow! that's interesting! How long have you been on the methotrexate? and how soon after your original PMR diagnosis did you start and how many mg Prednisone were you on when you added the Methotrexate? I am 2 months with PMR and on 20 mg Prednisone. Did you experience any hair loss from the Methotrexate?

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rashida | @rashida | Feb 16, 2022
In reply to @abbeyc "Thank you for sharing. Did any other negative side effects occur from the Methotrexate, like hair..." + (show)
@abbeyc

Thank you for sharing. Did any other negative side effects occur from the Methotrexate, like hair loss, since it's a chemo drug?

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@abbeyc - I had no side effects or reaction to Methotrexate at all. In tablet form, and in such a low dosage it really does not work like a cancer drug, although it is one. I think one would be more affected if it were taken in, say, 100mg.+ infusions.

I wish I could have remained on the full dose of 8 X 2.5mg pills as nothing else has worked on my psoriasis as well as Methotrexate did. If it weren’t for the fact I have Fatty Liver Disease, I could have continued with it.

I was never prescribed Prednisone with it. I imagine Prednisone is prescribed as a precaution against an allergic reaction …?

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1 reply
tillysam | @tillysam | Feb 16, 2022

I had terrible digestive problems.

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1 reply
abbeyc | @abbeyc | Feb 16, 2022
In reply to @rashida "@abbeyc - I had no side effects or reaction to Methotrexate at all. In tablet form,..." + (show)
@rashida

@abbeyc - I had no side effects or reaction to Methotrexate at all. In tablet form, and in such a low dosage it really does not work like a cancer drug, although it is one. I think one would be more affected if it were taken in, say, 100mg.+ infusions.

I wish I could have remained on the full dose of 8 X 2.5mg pills as nothing else has worked on my psoriasis as well as Methotrexate did. If it weren’t for the fact I have Fatty Liver Disease, I could have continued with it.

I was never prescribed Prednisone with it. I imagine Prednisone is prescribed as a precaution against an allergic reaction …?

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Thank you for that information. This makes me feel better about trying it. Those of us with PMR are put on Prednisone to control the pain and symptoms. and then we slowly work our way down to low or no dosages of Prednisone. None of us want to be on steroids. My doctor says Methotrexate is a way to potentially get off the steroids faster. I will learn more tomorrow.

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2 replies
marda | @marda | Feb 16, 2022

Just got back from the Rheumatologist and was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis on top of my PMR and Temporal Arteritis because of scaly scalp, skin, weird looking fingernails, etc. That is why I've been having so much trouble getting off of Prednisone. Been put on 10mg of Methotrexate along with 7 1/2 mg of Prednisone. Taking me down on the Prednisone brought out the Psoriatic Arthritis. Hopefully, I won't have any side effects from the Methotrexate. Fingers crossed.

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West Virginia 1954 | @wv54 | Feb 16, 2022
In reply to @abbeyc "Thank you so much for sharing. Other than needing the folic acid, were you told of..." + (show)
@abbeyc

Thank 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.

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The only thing I was told - if I didn't take the Folic - I would know by the side effects ---- that was it -- no hair loss ----- yet

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3 replies
marda | @marda | Feb 16, 2022
In reply to @wv54 "The only thing I was told - if I didn't take the Folic - I would..." + (show)
@wv54

The only thing I was told - if I didn't take the Folic - I would know by the side effects ---- that was it -- no hair loss ----- yet

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They gave me a sheet with side effects and did also give me folic acid to take as well.

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1 reply
West Virginia 1954 | @wv54 | Feb 16, 2022
In reply to @marda "They gave me a sheet with side effects and did also give me folic acid to..." + (show)
@marda

They gave me a sheet with side effects and did also give me folic acid to take as well.

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My doctors DID NOT tell me as to what my sugar level would do under Prednisone ----- that upset me ---- my sugar hit 400 -- I started cutting my Predisone back after almost a month --- 5 mg every 10 days --- when I went back to my family doctor, he and I had a little talk --------------------

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