Methotrexate

Methotrexate did reduce my inflammation, but also knocked out my immune system, meaning I’d to have six days in hospital getting neutrophil infusions. I’ve now moved on to Mycophenalate, but it’s not agreeing with my kidney function!
I’m seriously tempted to go back to the prednisolone, even though it made my face twice its normal size!

I have RA and have been on it for years and have managed to tolerate it. You are usually given folic acid tablets 1-2 days later. It is a” serious” drug and not always tolerated. It is used to suppress immune system to stop RA kicking off. It is I believe used for cancer as well. It does not suppress flare ups that can happen and I am not too well at moment. It is also used to help eczema. It helped me as a secondary thing. Had to have injection in shoulder as well.

I don’t want to alarm you but I have to say something.

My husband was treated for severe peripheral ankolysing spondylitis (an immune system disease) with methotrexate.
He then developed acute myeloid leukaemia.

He was regularly blood tested because methotrexate works by suppressing the immune system through chemotherapy which can affect the production of blood cells.

When he was diagnosed with AML we asked if it could have anything to do with methotrexate and were told there was no evidence to that effect.

There is now evidence (many years later) as you will see if you google “methotrexate leukaemia “.

I think you are wise to be very, very cautious in using this drug although those affected may be a small proportion of those who benefit.

I’m sorry to post this but my conscience would not let me pass by.

Our daughter has, sadly, needed methotrexate for many years for RA. The specialist who prescribed it when she was a teenager still all those years ago said he couldn’t be sure that the drug might eventually give her cancer. There was little other option then. She has been on other “biological” drugs for years together with methotrexate. Her bloods are checked regularly. It IS a serious drug only to be taken IMHO only when nothing else is available.

I'm grateful for the caveats from some of you. I too have been temve pted to take to prednisolone. I have quite a lot left since I recovered from polymyalgia, but have decided it's better not to self-medicate. I have Sjogren's syndrome - many different symptoms can be attributed to that, but specially inflammatory flares.

I'm grateful for the caveats from some of you. I too have been temve pted to take to prednisolone. I have quite a lot left since I recovered from polymyalgia, but have decided it's better not to self-medicate. I have Sjogren's syndrome - many different symptoms can be attributed to that, but specially inflammatory flares.