Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Metheltrexate -Does it affect your mood?

I started metheltrexate a few months ago, horrible stuff. I get soooo tired the day I take it and then the next two days I feel green and sick to my tummy. It did help my swollen knees though so I just dealt with the crummy side effects. But, I noticed when I take a higher dose it makes me feel sort of down and sad. So I cut it back and I don't feel so down. I was wondering if anyone noticed mtx affecting their mood? Its such a lousy feeling that I don't want to take my full dose, so I cut it in half so I would not feel too bad. Also, I get muscle pain in my legs when I take it. Does this happen to anyone also?

Thanks guys.

Oh no! How much are you taking? Didn't your Dr. give you a med to take beforehand so you wouldn't get nauseous? That really helps. The first few times I took it, I would not schedule anything for the day after as I would be real sleepy but after a few weeks that didn't happen anymore. My Dr. only increased it once and then cut it back. I'm not on it anymore. My liver enzymes climbed to high. I hope my Remicade works without it. I'm scared to be off of it. Glad it has helped your knees.

Let your Dr. know. Have you had your labs taken recently? I hope it all evens out for you and have them give you something for the sick belly. They have several med's to take for that. Good luck.

I've been taking mtx for nearly a year now and haven't had any major problems. I felt a bit tired and down sometimes early on, but that could have been from the AS and dealing with the diagnosis.

I did increase my folic acid from 5mg per week to 10 mg per week as I had a bit of lower GI upset after the mtx dose was increased to 15mg to 20mg - how much folic acid are you taking?

Pea,
Thanks for telling me your experience. I had a hard time when I started taking medications and I was afraid to telll my dr becaus ewhen I do that he offers more medicine, which I don't want,so I just deal with the upset tummy.
take care, hope you are feeling better too.

Shirley,
I take 1mg of folic acid everyday, so 7mg a week, I just bought some additional folic acid at the store, maybe I will see what happens when I take a little extra.
The folic acid helps your gi tract?

I see you are doing a low starch diet. Yesterday I just ate fruits and veggies all day, mostly raw, just one cooked veggie and I also juiced alot of them and this morning I woke up feeling so much better than I have in along time. I watched that documentary "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" and A man juices his way to better health and gets his autoimmune disease into remmssion. Its free to watch on the internet I think or Netflix.

So how are you managing your AS, are you in pain or not? How long have you had symptoms? Do you have fusing?
Thanks again.
Take care!

I think for some reason you aren't meant to take folic on the day that you take the MTX? You might want to check that. Also some folk just take the folic once or twice a week. Its the total weekly dose that matters more than getting it every day I think. Ask your doctor if you should take a bit more.

The immune suppressors like Sulphasalazine and TNF blockers deplete your Folic Acid and MTX and it needs to be replaced. My G.I. Dr. has me on it daily. Google what happens if you are low on folic acid. That will help.

My rheumy is one of those who believe in skipping folate on the MTX day. It seems to be hotly debated. Folate levels can be checked via blood test. But amount of supplementation usually is based on side-effects from the MTX. More hair loss, mouth sores, tiredness and you could be a candidate for higher dosing. Right now, I take 15mg/week of MTX and 1mg/day of folate (except MTX day). No problems.

Yes I think different people have different regimes, but I think most agree that we shouldn't have folic acid on the same day as the mtx.

Thank you for helping everyone.
Pea, I looked up folate deficiency and it if folate is too low one can become depressed,so maybe the mtx is depleting my folic acid and messing with my mood. I just googled folic acid deficiency and I read that some people that take anti depressants and they wont workif the person is low on folate and vitamin b 12. Thanks Pea for the info.