Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Mtx & Awful Nausea

Weird, but I had been off Enbrel for almost two weeks while on antibiotics, and last night took my first shot, and woke up throwing up, and I'm not usually sick like that on meds....but the mtx is different, it's chemotherapy vs. a biologic right?? I wouldn't take it as I heard it can be really hard on the liver....
Hope you are feeling better!
Peace
Linc

Linc O'Brien

Sherree,

When I complained of nausia on MTX, my doctor took me off right away and started me on a biological (I think he was looking for a reason to move on), but I've been on medications that cause nausea in the past. I was given Reglin with one of them, but it was in a hospital setting and I don't know if they prescribe that for at home. I've been given Phenergan more frequently. It makes you tired, but since you take the MTX at night, I wouldn't see how this would make a difference. Maybe your doctor can prescribe something like one of those to take on the nights you take MTX.

Jeff

how much they start you on?

Must admit felt better very soon after starting MTX, any difference innthe normal head/neck pain to the new headache....it is alisted side effect.....

Wayne posted some tips about a year ago.......some say not to eat too much i've tried both I'm ok.

However there are lots of other dmards around.....you though about changiing biological......ninbot may be a good resource!!

David

Hi all... I'm on a baby dose (my words) 7.5 mg/week, 1 mg folic acid daily. I resisted taking the mtx for 6 months (late july), but since my Enbrel is not as effective as when I started, my rheumy wanted me to supplement for now. Next month we will be discussing a possible switch to Remicade (especially since it's just been approved for AS officially) or Humira. I would prefer not to add another injection to my life - I'm still doing the twice a week Enbrel injections (no way I'm doing the once a week version).

All I know is I really dislike the MTX for alot of reasons (side effects notwithstanding) and am still trying to decide whether or not to continue.

Thanks for the suggestions all.

Stay well,

Sherree

Sherree,

Since MTX seems to be such a dreaded option for you, I think it's great that you'll be seeing your rheumatologist soon to discuss the possibility of switching to another biologic. If you had better pain and symptom coverage, then perhaps the addition of mtx would not be necessary.

I find it unfortunate that you dislike MTX to such an extent. It’s an old and well-known drug, and while everyone doesn’t tolerate it as well as I do, many people have been on it for years without problems. It's really too bad that you are unwilling to give it a trial, since it has been a good medication for some of us here.

I wish you luck in finding the best combination of drugs for you,

Nina

Nina,

thanks for posting!!!

David

Nina -- I know MTX is a good medicine for AS and has done wonders for a lot of people. I think what scares me so much about this whole thing, is we're experimenting basically and I don't know what lasting damage may or may not happen to my liver, kidneys or other organs. I'm on such a low dose right now that I can't imagine anything happening, but you never know. I am going for my first blood test since starting the mtx next week - that may give me a better clue (and might ease my mind) as to where we stand.

After lots of thought and discussion with my husband, I decided I'm going to continue the MTX (side effects be damned!) until I see my rheumy on Feb 16th. Hopefully by then, I will know whether it works for me or not. It hasn't even had a chance to "kick in" - other than the nausea/headache, I haven't noticed anything different - yet.

Thank you for your understanding and I meant no offense to those who do take this and have no problems.

Sherree

Edited by starrnr on 01/14/05 01:51 PM (server time).

I was a little worried when starting MTX, but nowadays I don’t even think of it anymore. This is my fifth year on MTX and my bloodwork keeps coming back fine, even at 25 mg (10 pills). I don’t get low white blood cells from it either, or kidney- or liver abnormalities. The few occasions my liver enzymes have been a little elevated has been when I’ve taken Aspirin or Tylenol for migraines – never from MTX itself.

Nausea will likely subside once your body gets used to MTX, or in worst case you can take an even smaller dose, like 1-2 pills, for a couple of weeks. I was started at 1 or 2 pills and the dose was increased with a pill every week.

The most important thing is to have frequent bloodwork on MTX (or any DMARD), particularly during the first couple of months. The standard over here is bloodwork every 2 weeks for the first 3-6 months, and then monthly or bimonthly after that. I still go every month, but that’s partly because I am on Humira too and partly because I’ve had a difficult-to-control AS in the past.

You’ll probably feel better after the first bloodwork has come back OK.

I am very familiar with nausea, I take ginger capsules when I am expecting to feel disgusting, have you tried any over the counter travel sickness meds like gravol. They are tiny little pills that go down easy and they also it in suppostory form.

Laneblue