Hello all, is anyone else on methotrexate? Is it working? What type of side affects do you have?
Hello Barbara. I have been on it since June. The main side effect for me is nausea. However, sometimes I have a nasty taste in my mouth and a weird feeling near my mouth. How long have you been on it? What side effects do you have?
Hi…I take Methotrexate along with my Plaquenil. It is hard to tell if it helps or not. I take 8/ 2.5 mg tabs per week. I get sores in my mouth from it, bruise easily and I do believe it causes my hair to fall out more than it already does. I have been to a couple of Rheumatologists. One swears by it and one says it is a terrible drug. I have been on it for 4 years now. It did improve my symptoms initially. I take 5mg of folic acid daily and that helps with the mouth sores. Hope this helps and good luck.
Hi. I take 20 mg of Methotrexate weekly, 3 mg of folic acid daily, & 400 mg of Plaquenil daily. The Methotrexate makes me extremely nauseous. I think it causes more hair loss although it hard to tell since Lupus & Hashimoto’s also cause hair loss. I am very fatigued, but I also have fibromyalgia so I’m not sure if the fatigue is from the Methotrexate or not. I get mouth sores pretty often, but again Lupus causes mouth sores. It’s hard to know which symptoms are side effects & which are caused by my diseases. My rheumatologist says my numbers are getting better with Methotrexate so I guess that’s the good thing. Good luck to you!
Good morning. I too, take Methothrexate along with my Plaquenil. I've been taking it for about 7 months and it seems to be working with my numbers. I can't say it's doing a lot for my flares because they seem to come on when I overexert myself. I still have joint pain in all of my major places (hips, neck, knees, elbows and wrists/hands), but it seems to be a little more bearable. I take a 15mg shot once a week. I also take the folic acid with it. Side effects I've had include nausea, easy bruising and a bad taste in my mouth from time to time, especially after I take the shot. I also get very sleepy on the day I take the shot. I actually got more mouth sores before I started the methotrexate, so I can't say that's a side effect for me. I hope this helps.
I was put on it when I started showing RA symptoms in addition to my lupus. I experienced vomiting and diarrhea at even very low doses so was taken off of it. I am currently on plaquinal immuran and weaning off of prednisone. Doing fairly well all things considered. Good luck to you!
I’m on Methotrexate at 25 mg/ weekly and it’s helping me a great deal, I’m having no side effects at all
AGM said:
Hi. I take 20 mg of Methotrexate weekly, 3 mg of folic acid daily, & 400 mg of Plaquenil daily. The Methotrexate makes me extremely nauseous. I think it causes more hair loss although it hard to tell since Lupus & Hashimoto's also cause hair loss. I am very fatigued, but I also have fibromyalgia so I'm not sure if the fatigue is from the Methotrexate or not. I get mouth sores pretty often, but again Lupus causes mouth sores. It's hard to know which symptoms are side effects & which are caused by my diseases. My rheumatologist says my numbers are getting better with Methotrexate so I guess that's the good thing. Good luck to you!
I agree with AGM. I can’t tell if I am having side effects or if it is part of the disease. Have lost a ton of hair. Think i will try s short hair cut to cope:)
I was on methotrexate when plaquenil and mobic weren't cutting it for my arthritis. It helped with the joint pain some, but the side effects were extreme for me. Nausea, fatigue, hair loss, mouth sores, nose sores. I was willing to hang with all that, but then my kidneys started to struggle, so I can't take it anymore at all. Luckily, "failing" methotrexate allowed me to try a biologic or two, and now I'm on remicade, and it's maybe going to do the job.
I'm a bit unusual in the side effects and kidney department. I met a 90-year-old lady who was on methotrexate for 25 years before she needed something stronger, and she's still kicking!
I haven’t been on this site for awhile but wanted to log in when I saw the subject line. I have been on methotrexate injections since July and have to admit the side effects seem worse to me (nauseous, extreme fatigue) than my symptoms prior. I am so discouraged but my rheumatologist keeps telling me to hang in there. How have each of you dealt with the side effects and still had a life?!? My folic acid was just increased to 3mg a day but not sure that is helping much. Thanks 
How long have you been on it?
Doolittle said:
I agree with AGM. I can’t tell if I am having side effects or if it is part of the disease. Have lost a ton of hair. Think i will try s short hair cut to cope:)
4 years
Maddiemel…I think I am so used to the side effects I just live with it but I have often thought about stopping it to see what happens.
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Maddiemel said:
I haven’t been on this site for awhile but wanted to log in when I saw the subject line. I have been on methotrexate injections since July and have to admit the side effects seem worse to me (nauseous, extreme fatigue) than my symptoms prior. I am so discouraged but my rheumatologist keeps telling me to hang in there. How have each of you dealt with the side effects and still had a life?!? My folic acid was just increased to 3mg a day but not sure that is helping much. Thanks
I was giving myself Methotrexate injections. Extreme nausea, and a general feeling of being unwell. I stopped Methotrexate, tried Imuran, now nothing except Plaquenil. I decided my quality of life with active Lupus is better than on these drugs. My dr wants me to try Benlysta infusions. But, what if I get a bad teaction? Each infusion lasts a month!
Hi Mountain Mamma. I hear what you are saying. I was thinking about coming off the Methotrexate as well. As far as the Benlysta, I havw the same fears as well. Still haven’t tried it. How do you feel on just the Plaquenil?
I stopped the Methotrexate 2 years ago and within months I was having a flare so I went back on it, but I’m one of the lucky ones, I have no bad side effects at all
I have only been on for 3 months so I am just beginning. My side affects are manageble
Doolittle said:
4 years
I have been on mtx15 mg once a week for over a along with hydroxychloroquinine 200 mg and corticosteroid 10 mg. Folic acid 5mg thrice a week.
Initially I had extreme nausea, stomach irritation, hairfall, messed up taste buds etc. After 7-8 months these side effects slowed down. Even now I can’t taste stuff, get hair fall but the intensity is not the same. It improved over time along with other side effects.
Hang in there, things will get better. Warm hugs.