Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; Can i substitute NSD from Methotrexate

Hi! Im an as patient diagnosed in 2007. Im HLAB27 positive. Im taking methotrexate 2.5mg x 3 /week since 2007 and have reacted really well with little to no side effects at all. I have had episodes of flare ups on my hips or back sometimes but goes away for a long time when i take pain reliever (arcoxia). I am actually planning to stop totally my methotrexate and start the nsd. Will the symptoms show up immediately when i stop medication?

Im a new resident in california (im from the philippines), and im wondering if there are methotrexate and folic acid in pharmacies here and can they be ordered over the counter?? I have a medical certificate anyway from my rheumathologist.How much are they. Cant seem to find it on the internet. I hope someone can help me.

Also, am i correct to assume that most people here dont use methotrexate and take biologicals instead. Im getting married soon to my gf and i want to have a healthy baby thats whay i wantto stop methotrexate immediately

Hey, Luigavinovic21:

I'm from California and have home in Philippines, too! Now live in Reno, however.



A lot depends upon where You are with this disease; we are each different.

However, if doing very strict NSD or willing to do a cleansing fast or juice regimen, stopping the MTX should not be too bad.

Yes, this drug is not available without a prescription, but it is inexpensive. I used to buy the injection vials and pull out the correct dosage and drink with orange juice; it is as effective because not adversely affected by digestive process before it is absorbed. We have folic acid here and it is cheap. Supplementation is very important in AS.

I saw a show on GMA (my wife is Filipina) on a fellow with AS who had to walk on all fours, but upside down!--face up--it was so difficult to watch that and I wanted to help that poor guy. His AS was perhaps made worse after some basketball injury.

We are from La Union, btw.

Mabuhay,
John

Personally I have found that eating low starch helps my spine and ribs but starch doesn't seem to make any difference either way with my hands etc I find I still need methotrexate and anti tnf medication as well as eating low starch but others here do well just eating low starch.

Hi Dragon Slayer,

Wow! Small world! I know La Union! A lot of surfing spots there.

Regarding my AS, im not sure if the NSD can really help a lot as I have been eating anything since 2007 with little to no episodes of flare ups. In fact, i have only used less than 50x of arcoxia for the last7 yrs. thats how mellow my AS is. I enjoy mtbiking as a competitive sport.

I live in Garden Grove Ca now. I dont have any prescription of methotrexate but i have a med cert. what pharmacies carry methotrexate? I saw walgreens, target pharmacy here. Just not visited it yet to ask.

For the NSD, is it really ZERO STARCH onthe diet? Meaning goodbye rice, mashed potato and bananas??

I di really want to stop methotrexate. As in zero medication, but im afraid it will come back.

Regarding supplements, what do you recommend to buy in the shops here.

For me early on to be effective and off all medications it was zero starch.

It is not easy and requires a lot of discipline. Can result in some other items you may have to work out as well... regularity as cutting out a lot of fiber, how much exercise you can manage etc..

It is a lifestyle choice and you will have to choose what you are comfortable with.

I have been on the diet for almost 13 years now, it really made difference in my life when I had to come off of medications because of elevated liver enzymes. But took many adjustments and had its ups and downs.

Best,

Tim

Does this mean there is good hope for as patients? You mean you have had zero flares without medication and only rely on NSD? Can you still do sports?

The starch in bananas converts to sugar as they ripen. Wait for the skin to start turning brown or cook them in the oven. I once had fried banana with ice cream in a cafe near the British Museum! Can't remember whether the cafe was Italian or Greek ..... or Cypriot ....

Went to walgreens pharmacy here in oc to inquire about methotrexate. They do need a medical prescription. I cant believe 3 tablets is worth 16usd?????