Methotrexate, anyone?

[hedgehog]

My rheumy doesn't want me on prednisone very long. My main problem is autoimmune fatigue, which the prednisone dopes wonders for. I think we will be talking methotrexate as the next step.

I have to admit - while I used to donate blood and handle blood draws without any problems, something about injections leaves me

[catnhatnh]

1. Coolest typo of the week....

...and yes to steroids for arthritis.

[hedgehog]

2. Can I blame the typo on brain fog? I'm off the prednisone right now!

[catnhatnh]

3. If that were mine, I'd blame it on wit and claim I did it on purpose...

...just like when I sink a real good pool shot by accident.

[Warpy]

4. I was on it for five years. While pills exist, I gave myself the shots

and honestly, half the time I didn't even feel them. It's very different when you're stabbing yourself. The pills were expensive and the injectable stuff was cheaper than dirt.

If you're on a once a week dose, you'll notice it the day after. The rest of the time, you'll feel pretty good.

I had to go off it because my GI system rebelled. I know some people who have been on it for 20 years with no problem.

[MuseRider]

5. It works well for some.

Way back I took it as we were going through the drugs looking for something that would help. It was the pills for me. I agree with Warpy, I have given myself allergy shots and other shots over the years and it is entirely different than having someone else do it. Hurts less for some reason. Don't let that be a major influencing factor until you have tried it.

I hated the drug, it was very hard on me. We moved on after about a year of it. It did seem to help a little but my reaction to it was enough to make that not enough to stay on it. However, there are people who have no trouble and do very very well with it.

[NightWatcher]

6. Been on it for 6 months now (20mg a week)

Last month the price went up a lot. I was paying $25 for a months worth, but it jumped to $100.

I also rec taking them at night instead of the day...so you'll sleep through the side effects if any. The made me feel real run down.

[hedgehog]

7. From what I can make out - it's one bad day a week and 6 good days -

not a bad trade-off for 7 bad days!

Thank you everyone for replying!

[NightWatcher]

8. Take it at night and sleep through the worst

And also be sure to take Folic Acid, it will lessen the side effects. I take the fa all week and it helps with the stomach stuff. I also take omerprazole (Prilosec over the counter) daily to help with the stomach crap that comes with 400mg of plaquenil and the meth. Remember, you can't drink alcohol with methotrexate, it'll screw up your liver.

Good luck, I first tried azathioprine but it reacted horribly with me.

[hedgehog]

9. Well, I've been on omerprazole for years - probably the first sign of my Sjopgren's,

although I didn't know it at the time! And I don't drink, so that takes care of that!

I'm halfway wondering if it's the methotrexate that does the job, or the megadose of folic acid!

[grilled onions]

10. I Am On The Pill Form

I have been for many years and I am also on prednisone(every other day). The worst I deal with is hair fall out but that also could be blamed on the psoriasis. In the beginning it did help those damn scales but now they are back from backside to scalp to inside my ears. But the alternative always is worse. If it wasn't for me hands I would not be much against the injectionable form.

[hedgehog]

11. Well, my rheumy reserves the methotrexate for joint problems, so

I won't be taking it for now. It'll be quick cycles of prednisone if needed for a while yet.