QUestion about injectable MTX

[luvwinnie]

Do you do it intramuscularly (that's what my dr. said, but I read some do it subcu.)...and what part of the body? Thanks. He said it doesn't hurt. Do you agree?

[JodyGK]

Hi luvwinnie -- I do injectable mtx at home, and I inject it subcutaneously. I usually do my stomach, just like I used to do Enbrel -- at least 2 inches away from the navel, pinching a fatty part to stick the needle into, going in at a 45-degree angle, etc. I warm the shot in my hand before injecting to reduce the risk of stinging, and it's easy as pie. The needles used are the little ones used for insulin, even thinner than Enbrel needles, so they don't hurt a bit if you get the angle right.

I prefer to inject mtx rather than take it orally. There's a school of thought that there's less risk of liver toxicity when injecting (don't know how true that is), and I don't get any gastro-intestinal side effects.

Jody

[JesseLou]

You inject it subcutaneously. That's in the fat layer. Maybe it can be intra-muscular, but I bet it would hurt.

Sub-cutaneous MTX injections sometimes sting a little from the alcohol you swab with first, and very rarely the needle hits a tiny capillarie. That stings a little more.

To make it as sting-free as possible, let the alcohol dry after you swab. Put the needle into a fatty area like your thigh. Depress the plunger very slowly.