Q: worried about changing medication after reading the side affects
Hi Shelly,
Methotrexate is the very first drug which my rheumy put me on 3.5 years ago. We titrated up to a dose which was effective for me. I take it Friday nights before I go to bed and don't really notice much in the way of side-effects. But I also take folic acid daily to help prevent some of those side-effects.
Keep in mind that not all people experience all side-effects. In fact, rarely would one person experience all possible side-effects. We are so individual that it's impossible to predict how a medication might would for one person or another.
Now I have to be honest and say that methotrexate has been wonderful drug for me. Very effective and it continues to be. I also started using Rituxan last year and the combination has been great.
There are many different RA drugs available now. Be sure to talk with your rheumy about ALL the possibilities. A combination of medications might would best for you.
Good luck!!
I was on it for three years, and I think that it did work to a point. It did not prevent the yearly flares that I get tho. But I do have to be honest with you, it made me feel awful, I took 9 pills aweek. On that day I spent the morning on the toilet, and therest of the day in bed because I was so exhausted I could not function. I did not a lot of energy the rest of the week either. I stopped taking it about 2 years ago due to hair loss. I did n ot realize how awful it made me feel until I stopped takeing it. I've been on arava for almost 2 years and I feel great.
But that is not to say that you would have the same side effects either.
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