Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group MTX Losing it's Effectiveness???

Hello folks,

I've been on methotrexate for just over a year now with fantastic results until recently. So my rheumy switched me to injections because I was beginning to add some new inflammation. I had been taking nine 2.5 mg tabs every Sunday. I've done the injections for a month now and the new inflammation spots are continuing to worsen. I'm beginning to worry that my methotrexate days are numbered... Would some of you be willing to share your experiences with methotrexate? (I'm also taking six Azulfidine tabs daily, two Sulindac tabs daily, and five folic acid tabs every day but Sunday.)

Thanks!

Sharon

I probably won't be much help, as my time on MTX was so limited. I was on it twice, the first time I had to stop it because I developed bronchitis, swollen glands, etc., and there is that lung lesion side effect (50% fatal) that is worrisome. Symptoms cleared, went back on it, same thing. So that was it. But I was a bit leery of MTX anyway, it's more of a scattershot approach (been around since the 1950s), unlike the new disease modifiers that target a specific "thing" in the body. MTX is very hard on the liver too. It's actually a chemo drug, given in much lighter doses to people with RA and AS. You might consider asking your doctor about Enbrel, Arava, or Remicade - -or the new one, Humira, although that one hasn't been around very long, so not much of a track record as per side effects over time. These are disease modifiers that, at least in the studies so far, have suggested they not only put you into remission (don't relieve the inflammation, they prevent it) and thus stop the damage process, and may even rebuild some of the tissues. I'm on Arava, much easier on the liver than MTX (Enbrel has no effect on the liver), and I have had no serious side effects -- well, no side effects whatsoever after the first four weeks when I had a bit of abdominal cramping. According to my research I have a .0007 chance of dying from being on Arava, which means I'm safer taking my pill than taking a drive down Route 95 in the rush hour traffic

Cheryl

Dogs don't care if you make more money than they do

Thanks, Cheryl!

I remember your horror story of bronchitis as a result of mtx! Thankfully, I haven't had any trouble so far... I will mention Enbrel to my doc the next time I see him. Is that an oral med or injection?

Sharon

Sharon
Enbrel is 2 injections a week... Not bad once you get the hang of it..
Mike

Just like most drugs, The body gets immuned to them. I just hope Enbrel keeps working...



I'm a little pain on the "AS"..