METH

[19921]

HI NEW TO SITE HAVE HAD P FOR 10 YEARS. BEEN USING METH ON AND OFF FOR 7 YEARS. AS OF LATELY IT HAS NOT WORKED AS WELL ,TAKE 20 MG A WEEK,DONT WANT TO INCREASE DOSEAGE AMOUNT.DO THE INJECTIONS WORK BETTER THEN THE PILLS. ANY SUGGESTIONS
THANKS

[bj4st]

I was having stomach problems with the pills so that is why my Dr. switched me to injections. I did not notice any difference in the P clearing more by switching but it got rid of my stomach problems.

bj

[CJ]

I have not had any stomache probs either but I do not take pills or inject. I use an insulin needle and draw .60 cc from vile and add to OJ and I seem to be ok Of course we all know that anybody on MTX needs to take Folic Acid. MTX deplets it and it is a basic vit that can cause depression if not kept in check. I have seen a few msgs about Trexall if I can I would like to get on it instead. With MTX I get headaches that feel like someone is stabbing the back of my head. The good thing is that the MTX not only helps the P but also my PA . Make sure you eat healthy and try to avoid getting sick. I ended up going to ER for 2 days with bad case of mono that Dr atribute to me being on the MTX which lowered my immune sys. Ok I will get off my soap box if anybody has any questions or needs to vent email me its alway nice to talk to others and share what works best for them . Bye for now.

Peace and Positive thougths

C.J. 8)
ibelieveinf8@yahoo.com

[19921]

THANKS CJ FOR THE HELPFUL INSIGHT AND SUGGESTION. ITS GREAT TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO TO GET INFO

RANDY

[rhop]

Hello - Mtx. helped me significantly for years, but finally lost its affectiveness. I am still on it, after 12 yrs., with a few times off for a few months. But the disease doesn't respond to it like it used to. After about 7 yrs. at up to 35mg per wk. (1.4cc) the skin p. went crazy, from nearly nonexistent to over 40% of my body, but if I go off of the mtx. even for a couple of weeks, I start to go downhill immediately with the p.a.

I definitely prefer the injections that I give myself - I had nausea, dizziness and mouth sores when I took pills, and also when I did the liquid in juice, because it was going through the digestive system both ways. As long as I take about 1mg of folic acid a couple of times a day, sometimes more on injection day, I don't get any side effects, even though the mouth sores (stomatitis on roof of mouth) would come back if I slacked off on the folic acid. I must also say that I have never, in 12 yrs., had any suppression of my immune system to make me more susceptible to other things, such as colds, flu, etc. I also have never had to have any liver biopsies, and have never had any problems with elevated liver enzymes or with red blood cell or platelet counts. I know I'm probably lucky in that regard, but I have actually had fewer respiratory infections since being on mtx. than before I got sick with the p.a. I take high doses of Aleve (naproxyn) and sometimes Darvocet when in a lot of pain. I definitely feel better when I eat healthily and take vitamins, minerals, and fish oil and other supplements. My rheumy once told me that the mtx. doesn't suppress the immune system in the same way that would make one more susceptable to other stuff. Does anyone have info on that subject? He also said that the mtx., being a chemotherapeutic agent, may provide some protection against developing cancer (a concern of mine since my mom died of breast cancer.) Does anyone know about that one, also? Anyway, thanks to everyone for all the info you put out here. Rosemary

[Angel]

Looks like everyone is ahead of me when it comes to MTX. My doctor wants me to start treatment on 3/5/02. I read the insert. Scarey. Thanks for the Folic Acid tip. Still scared.

[19921]

A normal, desirable level is 10 micromol/L or less. A level of 12 micromol/L is considered borderline and levels
of 15 micromol/L or above are considered to be indicative of increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Several
factors (age, smoking, vitamin deficiencies, and genetic abnormalities) have been linked to increased homocysteine
levels. Medications that interact with folate such as methotrexate, carbamazepine, phenytoin, and colestipol/niacin
combinations have also been linked to increased homocysteine levels.


http://www.pinc.com/healthnews/folate.html


HI ALL I WAS GOING TO TAKE FOLIC ACID WITH METH AND RAN ACROSS THIS DID NOT UNDERSTAND COULD ANY ONE EXPLAIN

THANK RANDY

[hi there]

I have been taking 20mg of mtx for 2 years and until I went on this site I had no idea about the folic acid. I went and got some yesterday and started taking it. So thank you all for that advise, my ps has started to come back slowly The prob is being nearly free of it for 2 years after having it for 30years. The prospect of going off the drug and going back to what it was really frightens and depresses me.