Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group MTX injections

Hi all. Has anyone had experience with Methotrexate injections? Anything to look out for etc? It's going to be a dry summer, no drinking and all that but that's fine. Also, I heard that milk thistle can help with the liver, is that true?
I have all the documentation for it but that's pretty well general information and, as we all know, things can change as one starts something new. My goal is to get back on the golf course if at all possible. "Keep your head down" .....well....that's not a problem, heheh....

I start the program of the shots for at least 3 months with the hope of getting on Remicade in the near future. They're going to be once a week but I did get a px for 60 weeks, yikes.

Thanks!

Timo

I have no input on the injections but here to wish you luck with it and I hope you get out on the course for a bit of relaxation!

Timo,

Have been stabbing myself for 5 months now. It is not a lot of fun. Started out with 10mg injections once a week in the mornings and then taking 5mg Folic acid in the evenings to reduce the side effects. I am now up to 20mg per week and find myself feeling sick, fatigued and just plain lousy (I also get headaches I like to dub "Methotrexate headaches" but I can not prove its the MTX that causes headaches) for at least two days after injections. Since I have been getting worse, I will start on Remicade in about a month. I have to wait for Remicade because I have a history of latent TB so my Rheumy started me on a nine month course of INH (?) therapy to make sure I do not get TB. (No drinking as well).

I have read a few reports while surfing that say MTX does not really do much for AS. I think I was put on it because the Sulfasalazine did not do anything and I have a lot of periphial involvement.

So soon I get to indulge in a lovely cocktail of Remicade, MTX, Isoniazid (TB), Prednisone, Celebrex, and of course the odd Percocet. Seems to me that is enough to kill an elephant.

I sure hope that the MTX works good for you. We are all different so here's hoping for your relief.

Ham

Hey Timo.

I was on MTX for quite a while when we made the decision to switch to the subcutaneous injections. There's supposed to be a better uptake of the drug that way, and I certainly found it to be the case. Unfortunately for me the extra symptom benefit was largely overshadowed by extra side effects. I was getting sick all the time. There's not a lot of evidence to support this in the literature - MTX at these levels shouldnt make you that severely immunocompromised - but there certainly is many of us who report it (my doc even said so).

I know that you've mentioned before relief of symptoms when you have a concurrent cold. I've never felt the effects of that so much as when I was on the MTX. So there's a good heads up for ya!

As for what else to say - just stick with your routine blood work to watch those liver enzymes. Make sure to report any usual coughs too - MTX can affect the lungs. I took folic acid at MTX 'off' times. I took my injections on the weekend, so I took my folic acid during the week. I thought this would both maximize the effects of the MTX and replace the folic acid I was missing. I didnt use it until I got mouth sores though.

Good luck Timo. Keep us posted on how you make out!
Jeanna

The art of medicine is to treat the patient until nature heals the disease.
- Voltaire

Hi Timo,

Be sure to ask your doc about folic acid... it not only minimizes mouth sores and hair loss, but it has been proven to protect the liver when taken in conjunction with mtx.

I've had no prob with the injections, but I was already taking the oral form before switching to injections, so I dealt with all the initial symptoms then... loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, etc. I had FANTASTIC results after a few months on the oral, but have now begun losing ground for some reason, hence the injections. I'm hoping the injections will work and give me even more benefit! Right now I am back to operating at about 90% of normal which is wonderful!!!

Hopefully you'll adjust just fine and will notice some great benefits!

Sharon

3 years has passed since the las post in this thread but here I am. This is just to say that I began using mtx for about one year now, it was fantastic in the begining, total remission of symtoms for 6 months, but after that I had uveitis and bad heel and knee problems, so my rheumy decided to change to mtx ijections. I'll begin next week, let's see what happens.
By the way, my name is Mark, from Spain, this is the first time I write in the forum, everytime I have a question, I check this forum and I found an answer!!! there are so many posts that it seems that you have cover all possible doubts, this is fantastic! thank you for being there.
Mark