New meds for me - Methotrexate and Prednisone

Kickas.org

Hi again,

Been a while since I posted, but I still lurk and read.

I had a pretty good year up until a few months ago - had about 10 months where I was feeling good, with just minor flares and I was going to the gym, working out, getting fit. That lasted till Febuary, when it kicked in and since then I've been in whole new levels of pain and reduced movement... all my joints are affected, as well as my back and my neck. (I have psoriatic arthritis, for those that dont know)

I went to the rheumy yesterday, and she has put me on 15mg of Methotrexate and 20 mg of Prednisone. The Methotrexate builds weekly from 2.5mg to 15mg over 4 weeks, and the Prednisone reduces after two weeks by 5mg a week until it remains on 5mg.

I guess this is pretty routine, but it seems like the docs are bringing out the big guns now because I'm in such pain.

The point of my post is that I just appreciated that it's for ever: it's not going to go away -it's something I'll always have to deal with.

I asked the rheumy how long I would need to take the Methotrexate for: She said it was long term.

"For ever?" I asked
"No, not for ever"
"Well, how long?"
"It depends how you go"

It's much like when I emigrated to New Zealand from England. When I first arrived I bought lots of postcards to send 'home' - something I'd traditionally do on holiday the day before I left to go home. Those postcards still sit in my drawer...

prednisone has been a miracle drug for me. Even with the weight gain, my pain levels are MUCH MUCH lower, and Im able to do way more then I could before the preddy. Ive been on it for almost a year and a half now and my doc doesnt even mentino when Ill come off because its the only thing we can use to fight the pain besides opiates. I had a bad reaction to methotrexate personally, but Im sure you'll get a lot of people telling you about their experiences. Welcome from lurking. Its a good place to be, this kickas.org. Its saved my sanity plenty of times.

Hi There

Well weight gain isn't an issue for me, as I'm a skinny chap right now. And as I've had to pretty much give up beer for the methotrexate, I'll be missing what little weight gain I had going on, anyway.

I've just taken my first 20mg prednisone dose this morning, and I'm looking forward to some relief. Hope it comes fast!

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Hi There

Well weight gain isn't an issue for me, as I'm a skinny chap right now. And as I've had to pretty much give up beer for the methotrexate, I'll be missing what little weight gain I had going on, anyway.

I've just taken my first 20mg prednisone dose this morning, and I'm looking forward to some relief. Hope it comes fast!

it came quite fast for me. whether that was psychological or the actual medicine, one will never know, but to be honest, I dont care cuz it worked and is still working. I pray it works for you as well as it does for me

Tela

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I pray it works for you as well as it does for me

That's so nice Tela - thank you

I've just developed a real headache (something I hardly ever get) and I'm feeling a bit confused generally - sort of a fluffy headed feeling.

I wonder if it's too soon (only took the first dose about 4 hours ago) to be having a beneficial effect, but I reckon my pains are diminishing a bit. Apart from the headache, that is.

Does anyone know if it's safe to take paracetamol with pred?

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Does anyone know if it's safe to take paracetamol with pred?

im not sure what that is, but i imagine your doc wouldnt give you any medicines without letting you know if there is a contraindication of the two.

HI... HOMEPAGE TRY THIS SITE I HOPE IT HELP....TAKE CARE

Don't know about the other meds (rheumy won't let me take methotrexate because of scary stuff my tummy's been through), but one thing to look out for is that some people have trouble with, um, personality changes, with prednisone. As a nurse I've seen people get themselves fired, arrested, or almost divorced before realizing it was the steroids. Of course, not everybody reacts this way, and it is very helpful. I myself just get very wired and anxious on it, so I try not to make new friends while I'm on it...bad first impression

Just pay attention to how you're feeling, and contact your doc if you see anything too "funny", because you do have to taper off it, even if you react badly to it!

Shane,

Don't be too upset.

The Meth is not so bad, it really might help you.

The prednisone is the one you need to be careful of, it is for the inflammation. If you use it long term it might cause some weight gain, mood swings, depression. If you start feeling any of that just talk to your Dr. about it.

20mgs a day is a pretty good dose, but not if you don't stay on it for long. I take any where from 10mgs to 60mgs most days depending on how I am feeling. I have been slowly trying to wean myself off without my body going into attack mode.

Just keep your chin up,

Lisa

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Does anyone know if it's safe to take paracetamol with pred?

Yes, it's safe to take pred with paracetamol (Tylenol for non-Europeans), but be careful with long-term use, particularly when you've started MTX.

Forgot to add - I have been on MTX for almost 5 years and am doing just fine on 25 mg. I was first on Sulfasalazine and Prednisolone, then the SSZ was changed to MTX with the hope that I'd be able to get off the pred, which didn't happen. MTX is good for peripheral joints and psoriasis, but not for the back.

Shane,

sorry to hear things have n;t been that good, the mtx can help alot but short term the predddy should help alot......so try out exercise etc and stretching if you can suprising what comes undone.....

I'm on a similar regime long term and like you learning to accept it.....

It may take the mtx a while to start being effective......and do n't forget your folate!

David

Hi Shane

Don't know anything about the paracetamol with pred combo, but paracetamol and methotrexate can both be hard on the liver, so if you'll be taking the paracetamol often I think at least you should inform your rheummy (if he or she wasn't the one recommending them). You should also have your blood tested regularly, while on MTX.

/Mattias

Thanks Joy - Thats a useful site.

You're right Chelle - I noticed some change in my mood today - I feel a bit 'wired' like you say.

I'll be keeping an eye on it - thanks for the tip!

Cheers Lisa - in the midst of the worry and the warnings, it's good to remember the stuff is suppposed to be making me feel better!

Glad to hear the MTX is helping, ninbot. It's a neat side effect that it should fix up my psoriasis too. with all the pain, I dont bother worrying about that - but it'll be nice not to have my skin flaking off everywhere.

I didn't realise that it wouldn't help the back though - thats one of my main 'pains'

Hiya Davo

I've got the 5mg of folic acid to take once a week - I dont want my hair falling out...

thanks for the note... it's good to know these things can work. Thinking back - nothing has worked so far so it'll be nice to have some results

Hi Mattias

I'm going to check with the rheumy just in case...

And I'm having my bloods done every other week for the first couple of months. Joy of joys. I hate blood tests. I'm a big baby.

Shane,

Rememeber some of your previous posts and I got the feeling they were n't taking you seriously.....ok for "them" to say well we tried but the knock effects of not treating this disease early affect you long term!!!

Hope this new regime makes a big difference!

David

Actually I even voluntarily let nurse students do their target practice on me, so I'm not that concerned about the needles. I think it is worse with the tape they use to fasten the compress afterwards, ripping all my hair on my arm off when I remove it.

/Mattias

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I think it is worse with the tape they use to fasten the compress afterwards, ripping all my hair on my arm off when I remove it.

Yes, me too! Despite that I use wax to remove hair without any pain, I find the tape awful. Sometimes I wonder if my skin is going to come off along with the tape. Of course I often end up with everything between 2 to 8 compresses since I have bad veins.

It helps soaking the tape in the shower before removing it, though.

Nina

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And I'm having my bloods done every other week for the first couple of months. Joy of joys. I hate blood tests. I'm a big baby.

As long as you don't pass out! The lab nurses have told me that most of the patients who hate drawing blood are men, and that some guys have fainted even before any blood was drawn. My dad also fainted when he saw the needle that was going to be used to drain his knee.

Nina

Oh, it's not like I'm afraid of needles, I just find it a bit unpleasant.

I did however pass out once, but they'd taken lots of blood, I hadn't eaten and I was unwell. Honestly.

You're right about the tape though - I'm going to ask them to give that tape a miss. If they've done their job properly, I shouldn't be leaking much blood anyway!

I'm a kiwi too! I live in Canada now, was born in Welly, but lived in Oraki in Auck for a while.

Be careful with the methotrexate as it can mess your stomach. I was on it 4 2 yrs. It tokk my psoriasis away which was such a trip to have clear skin, but by the last year I was sick for 1 wk of every month for a year.