methotrexate side effects

Sorry - accidentally hit the "post comment"!

Lyrica is a fairly new drug that is for neuropathy and was recently approved to treat fibromyalgia - the first RX to be approved to treat FMS (which I also have).

I am convinced that the nerve damage is from taking the methotrexate.  The Lyrica is very helpful in controlling the night time pain in my feet.  I don't know if your pain issues are similar to mine or not - but I think that it is important that you take quick acton.

I think it is important that you see your physician asap.  If you are suffering so much, you need to see if you can resolve this problem before your pain becomes chronic.

Good luck!

AngylHeart

Sorry for the delay - holidays and all.

I would not recommend surgery based on my personal experience with two surgeries on each foot from the methotrexate nerve damage - and I continue to have problems with swelling & pain, which Lyrica helps a bit.  However, I am not a physician and would suggest that she see her dr. 

When I have a lot problems with trigger finger in thumb, etc., I find injections of steroids to be very helpful. 

I have only taken the first weeks dose for my auto immune disorder as they try to transition me from over a year at high doses of predisone and leg pains in my calves are growing daily.  This concerns me.  I'd like to know if others have this and it is managable or if it means this drug is not a good choice for me.  pat

Louise,

Just recently I have had some itching in the head area.  My Dr. gave me prednisone to take for the cramping which I do detest the side effects of prednisone, I am not taking the prednisone but I  have found some relief for the cramping by taking 2 potassium suplement tablets  daily.

Rob

what type of diet.  I have Ra  and I was on mex a few years ago and it worked well for me but I had to go off due to breast cancer . It has been about 2 yr. now and I feel good but I can feel my Ra  starting up again. I am on drugs for inflamation and 2 Plaquiniel a day  so I would like to find about your diet

Sandy

Randy,

Thanks for the information.  I also am 56 years old and very active.  Racquetball, long distant running, backpacking and cross country skiing.  I have had to give up racquetball and running but I walk daily as well as backpack and I still cross country ski.  My Dr. has me on 5 tablets of metotrexate once a week and 15 mg. of meloxicam daily.  My amount of attacks have reduced dramatically but I still have have them on occasion.  My Dr. does check my blood levels every two to three months and at one time I was taking 6 tablets of methotrexate and he reduced it after one of my blood tests and says now that my levels are back to normal.  I do not drink alcohol and he has expressed to me that that is very important to completely abstain from drinking while taking methotrexate.  How well do you feel that the Humira is working for you?

Thank you,

Rob

You are correct because I also forget to take my folic acid and I do have severe nausea.  I must remember to keep taking this supplement.  Thanks for the heads up.

Rob

I was on Humira for 8 months for RA and 6 months into my treatment I was put on methotrexate.  What started as moving numbness and tingling in my feet and hands turned into terrible cramping in my legs and feet at night.  I was taken off of the Humira & methotrexate in late February and while the symptoms subsided, they didn't completely go away.  I had a nerve velocity conduction study, and emg, and MRIs of my brain and spinal cord which all came back normal (thank God).  I switched rheumatologists because my initial one really brushed off the numbness and tingling I felt for a whole month and still kept me on Humira (which can cause the onset of MS and MS-like symptoms).  My new rheumatologist has changed my diet, has me taking fish oil, magnesium citrate, and Vitamin D.  Overall my joints felt immensely better as did the rest of me.  Due to my visible knuckle swelling and occassional joint pain he began me on methotrexate again.  I took my first injection two days ago and am at this very moment experiencing pain and cramping in my legs and feet.  While I am not glad that others are having these experiences as well, I am relieved to know that this may be directly associated with the use of methotrexate and knowing that others have felt this way, I feel better equipped to discuss my theories with my doctor.

Dear Practicemakespermanent!

I am also an RA patient and be on the weekly intake of 25 mg Methotrexate [next to REMICADE transfusions]. As you, I am awakened at night with terrible cramps in my lower extremities; I am actually catapulted out of bed because they are so severe.

My Rheumatologist prescribed 2 capsules of 300mg Magnesium, in addition of the recommendation of eating bananas and apricots. Being on that regimen for the past three weeks, but still suffer of these horribly painful cramps. It worries me if this could finally lead to a more severe problem!?

It would be really helpful in hearing from someone who had a successful treatment to prevent or subdue these cramps.

Thanks, Discouragedone :-(