Feeling of malaise, undue fatigue, chills and fever, dizziness and decreased resistance to infection are frequently reported side effects of methotraxate.
Headaches, drowsiness, blurred vision, transient blindness, speech impairment, convulsions can, also, occur following administration of methotrexate.
Occasionally, its use can be followed with transient subtle cognitive dysfunction (impaired process of being aware, knowing, thinking, learning and judging) and mood alteration.
Salazopyrin in some patients can cause seizures (convulsions) and balance problems (feeling dizzy).

For how long you are meds free?
How do you feel considering your chronic illness?

Thank you M and Ms for your reply. while I was reading it I saw the last miserable 4 years flash by again. I am staying off all RA medication at the moment hoping that the Remission stays awhile although my RH factors are 10 times normal.
I finally feel like I can get my life back I lost my job was but on a disability pension so I have a lot to get back.
what really has me concerned is that none of the doctors or Specialists over the time(all 5) even looked at the possibility that medication could have been responsible. Even know the Doctors are trying to hand out new pills and when I have a say about them they get really annoyed.
Never mind I feel great.
Thank you for your info.

You are welcome!
I'm happy you are feeling much better.
You can think of using some alternative ways to lessen your pain.
Turmeric, ginger, and botswellia are used for their anti-inflammatory properties.
Acupuncture can be used for pain relief, too.

Best wishes!
Marija

Hello,
I am currently on methotrexate for my arthritis and have been on and off for the last couple years. I have also noticed some of these side effects. Since i've been on this medication I am fatigued all the time, have slight memory problems, stutter more, feel dizzy/lightheaded, and shakey at times. (I am almost 21 yrs old) I haven't felt like myself in a long time. On top of the arthritis I had lyme disease last year from getting bit by a tick and that may have to do with the side affects too.

I stopped taking methotrexate a couple times when my knees were doing good and not swollen at all but it doesn't last long enough and before you know it the arthritis comes back and I had to go back on it

Well I hope you are doing well, I just wanted to reply because I have found myself to have similar reactions to the methotrexate.

Hi, I was diagnosed last august 08 with RA..I am 42 and if im honest I have known there was something wrong for a yr or two - just didn't want to admit it, or find out what was wrong. Apparently my cons said ive had it for 5yrs!! what a shock as it means I already have errosions pretty bad in my hands and also in my feet. It got to the stage last July were I couldn't get up and down stairs easy, which then led me in to HAVING to go to see my GP.
I was given steroid shots x 3 and put on Meths, as I call it lol..15 was my dose but now im on 20...I am now getting BAD headaches most days, feel dizzy and memory is terrible at times. Fatigue is a big problem, but how do I know if these are all side effects or my RA AND general health?? BP is up too....my cons reckons its my general health but I feel its the Meths..maybe im wrong? so ive dropped back to 15 to see if symptoms improve.
My RA is liveble I guess, my hands are in splints which is a pain [ A PAIN DOH!] as I use them for my work [I am a glass artist]
Has anyone taken the Laflunomide, I think it's called? as my cons wants me to take that now on top of my meths!!
Ive been healthy all my life so all this is a shock, I hate taking the medication and feel the side effects of it are sometimes worse that the RA! GRRRR

Im a positive person but it does get me down, I feel I need to speak to other people with RA rather than just my GP and consultant.

Does anyone else worry about the meds more than the RA as I do...maybe it's just me?

Im feeling okish today just a bit woozy - my mates may say im always woozy lol!!

Anyone else with RA you have my sympathy and I hope it isn't as advanced as mine....god knows how people feel if they have it when there younger than myself.....
...it makes me laugh somewhat when old dears complain of arthritis in their left little finger or elbow, little do they realise I have it all over.

I had better go and cut some glass whilst im on a good day. . . .

Debbie

Well Debbie, start eatingup the internet and educating yourself. This disease is life long but we can control it to some extent with drugs. It advances much faster than Osteo and most of my freinds and family and my boss DO NOT GET IT. I went to an RA seminar today, and they provided lots of good info. Have you called the Arthritis Foundation in your area? The latest buzz is that MTX combined with a biologic (is that what Laflunomide is?) are the number one way to go these days. You can inject MTX and it may lesson your symtoms OR you may be allergic to it. Start finding people in your area to talk to. It's a lonely world out there without support. I NEVER thought I'd be one to be purporting drug usage, but let me tell you this - You must stop the progression of this disease. It's plain old nasty and once bone is lost, it's gone forever. So hang in there and keep asking questions - and if you doc is not givingyou the answers, get another one - hopefully in a bigger city. Good luck
AJ in NW Washington State

Debbie,
It's another DMARD like MTX is. Ask your doc about biologics. and do some research. I was diagonosed in Novemeber 08 and start MTX in December 08 after the "2nd opinion" doctor told me i'd be crippled in 3 years and couldn't work if I didn't do something drug wise now to stop the progression. (oh those were joyous words) So I went on MTX. Now I've reacted at 20 mgs and am back to 15mgs going on Enbrel next week, in combo with the MTX.
Let's hear from you Deb,
AJ in the NW

Hi:

I am a 53 year old female who has just been advised that I need to put on methotrexate for Severe Asthma problems. After doing alot of research I see all the side effects this drug can cause.

I have put on so much prednisone over the years that my doctor seems to think I should not take any more because of the side effects also.

I have worries about this drug. Some side effects I have read state that you could breathing problems. Well, that doesn't make sense for me as I am being put on the drug for breathing probolems.

I hesitate to take this drug can someone help me.

Thanks

Frustrated in Canada!

Well I started Enbrel 5 shots ago (about a month) and I'm taking 5 MTX a week also. (12.5) My hair was falling out big time on the 6 MTX and since I didn't have alot to start with it was and is bothering me. I had malaise in the beginning few months on MTX. I'd just go to sleep all day. weird. Now it seems ok. I'm not up to 100% - still a little blah. Since starting Enbrel the swelling is down without taking any IBUs or Prednisone . On MTX alone I was taking 12 - 16 IBUs a day and 5mg of Pred. and bruising all the time. YUCK. They SAY you can go into remission with this MTX/biologic combo. I surely hope so. Anyone else have data about this?

So many of you are in the same boat. I thought and feel like I am a milingerer and a bludger at times having an arthritic condtion. Always being very fit and active before this hit me about 10 years ago. I am now on methotrexate, mobic, prednisolone ,colgout and plaquenil. The lethargy is the killer I get up late in the morning and want to sleep again an hour later.Only been on the methotrexate for a month and the 24-48 hours after the dose is hurting me with such joint and muscle soreness I cant even walk. I just hope it will get better and I can rehab myself as I get better.

Hi, this is Mhel. My daugther got diagnosed with Juvenile RA last January of 2009. She is only seven now. The first three months was the worst.... she got all the pains/swollen/stiffness all over, high grade fever, can't stand looking at her anymore that time. She really cried in pain all night. The Dr. started with ibuprofen in combination with prednisone, it didn't work. Then she was shifted to MTX and started with 2 tabs only once every week for two months. Her body responded positively thus, the DR increased it to 3 then 3 1/2 tablets now. MTX treatment in combination with Naproxen for pain is working well with her. She can now walk and go to school, less fever and stiffness. She is not at 100% remission if i may say but she is extremely better as compared to the first quarter on set of the illness. Physical therapy 3x/week played a major help, too. In terms of side effects, she lost around 4 kilos, from 23 now 19, her appetite got affected w/c according to the DR is expected. We are in close monitoring of her liver, too. Starting this week, she told me that she will only take a tablet of naproxen for pain, not 2, because the pain is almost gone. We Praise the LORD Jesus for keeping her safe and away from side effects until now. We have the faith that she will no longer have to shift to Enbrel...to all of you who has this illness, our GOD is just a prayer away...

I've been diagnosed with HLA-B27 Reactive Arthritis 2 1/2 years ago and I am now 29. I lost my first pregnancy at 8 weeks and we are unsure if it was b/c of the nasids I was taking specifically indocin (indomethacin). I am now in a severe flare in my knee causing a bakers cyst which is now gravitating to my calf cause edema of the ankle. I am scheduled to see a perinatologist to see if I can take a TNF (anti-tumor necrosis factor agent) during pregnancy my Rheumatologist wants me on enbrel but I want to try to have another baby. I know I don't want to take methotrexate (MTX) at all! You must abort your pregnancy even if the fetus (zygote) was exposed just two days! I have however found some info for ladies who suffer RA and want to conceive or already have. There’s a great article from John Hopkins arthritis center. I also found and article on etanercept (Enbrel) and pregnancy at www.otispregnancy.org
There is one hard thing to come to terms with and that is there is some evidence to suggest that women with RA may already have a higher risk of spontaneous abortion (miscarriage). There is also added risk caused by antirheumatic therapies, including MTX which 3 of the 7 women miscarried in this case study were receiving MTX at the time of conception.
I am not on MTX I refuse to take it! I do have information from www.arthritis.org stating taking Folic Acid or folinic acid to reduce the side effects of methotrexate. Has anyone tried Enbrel, Humria, or Remicide?