Is depression and memory loss associated with Methotrexate
Q: Daugher 18, on Methtrexate, has become depressed and suffers memory loss. is this side effect of MTX
Answers (3)
5/ 8/08 11:11pm
Yes. These could all be side effects of the medication, but also of the rheumatoid arthritis itself. Methotrexate can cause severe fatigue which it retuen can cause both depression and memory loss. How long has she been on the methotrexate. It took me about six months for it to build up in my system and for my body to get used to the side effects. Make sure to tell the rheumatologist of these side effects, and talk to your primary physician about the depression to see if he would want to put her on an antidepressant. Good luck and best wishes!
5/14/08 5:28am
Hello, Yes in my experience. I got the blues. It is an immune supressant action like many RA drugs. We are already immuno supressed just by the Rheumatoid and then we add Metho. or Arava or many of the others.
Metho. works well for many. For others it does nothing so after a time ask yourself and Rheumy - is it really working for my pain and joints ? Go off it to find out - you can always go back on it if you decide it was truly working.
I got serious side effect. If you ever have a cough while on any Rheumatoid supressant drugs (and most are supressants) please get an xray of your lungs immediately as they can all give respiritory and lung infections.
Please check your iron levels, vitamin D, thyroid function too. In Australia there is much talk of taking Omega 3 oils - fish oil or Krill oil for rheumatoid. 4 to 6 capsuls a day. Have only just started using burpless fish oil but others say this works better than any drugs.
5/19/08 2:32pm
Methotrexate has been known to have an affect on mood and may produce lethargy, sleepiness, and general malaise. In some studies it has also been shown to affect long term intelligence in young cancer survivors. The other thing to think about, is her depression possibly related to her underlying disease, not the medication?
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By Jean— Last Modified: 05/11/11, First Published: 05/06/08
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