Do the side effects of methotrexate ever go away?

It can take a while to get used to new meds and most of the time, side effects that are a bit much in the beginning will simmer down. As well, methotrexate takes about 6-8 weeks to really kick in, so you should start to see the benefits soon. That said, with any treatment, you have to weigh the benefits and the side effects and if the side effects make it difficult for you to live your life then maybe this is not the medication for you. It could be that your dose is too high - different people react differently to medications and maybe you need to start at a lower dose and gradually increase it as your body gets used to the medication. I would recommend that you call your rheumatologist, describe your symptoms and suggest possibly reducing the dose.  if it's hitting you this hard, don't wait until your appointment to talk to your doctor - you can expect a certain level of  flulike symptoms, fatigue and queasiness for a few days after you take methotrexate but what you're describing is extreme, which is why I'm thinking you may need a lower dose.  and if the lower dose doesn't work for you, then maybe you and your doctor should discuss different options for treatment.

Hang in there. Finding it medication that works for you can often be a matter of some trial and error, but once you do, your life should hopefully return to relative normal. RA can be a challenge, but it's not always this hard.

It sounds as if you are taking the meth orally.  I had similar problems with it until I switched to injections.  Once I started taking the injections I had no problems with meth. at all.  You might want to give it a try.

Hi I found out I had RA back in Oct of 2008. I felt like you did - hold on, you will get there on the other side and feel better. I won't promise that you will feel GREAT but better. My doctor told me that 18mg was the highest dose of methotreaxte as the body doesn't or can't intake any more than that from an oral form. She also told me that anything higher should be taken via injections and the side effects are much much less than what you would get via an oral dose. Also folic acid should be taken with metho, as it helps with the side effects as well. I speak to that as I took one dose without folic acid and was sick but the next dose and every since I have taken a daily dose of folic and no side effects at all.

good luck to you hope you get to feeling better soon.

In some cases yes, and some no. I have been taking metho for over 11 years now, and some side effects you learn to work with...and others...you have to put up with...to an degree anyway. If its somthing you can try and deal with anyway! For instance...i get low blood sugar with metho-for one of my symtoms, and i have found that if i eat regurlarly-(often-including before i go to bed at night)-that helps that part-most of the time. But as for the fatique...that one i have to deal with, but it's better then my RA going baserk on me. I was off it here recently-first..b/c of changing from metho-to arava, b/c the metho pills were getting way too harsh for me-to where i was throwing them up. So i was put on the arava, and after a month of it..i got a severe infectious disease, and had to stop the RA meds totally for 5 months-and then my RA was very active..i was getting more nodules on top of the ones i have had forever, and bad flareups. Then i was put back on the metho, but the shots instead of the pills. It is a love hate relationship-with the metho-for me anyway-the other problems i have are severe fatique, but i have that with out the metho too. And i still have some nesuea even from the shots..just not as bad, so far anyway. And i get dizzy spells, and IBS. But everyone is different..and it may not effect you this same way.

Good Luck to you