Fumaderm to Methotrexate switch, advice?

[jiml]

Hi CC how’s the methotrexate going is it working for you ?

[Fred]

Sorry I've been doing a clean up and only just realised this thread was started by ccarr06 and it maybe should have been split to a new thread.

ccarr06 if you do read this please let me know if you want your thread split.

Fred.

Hi Fred,

I don’t mind the thread as is, but if you think splitting might be better go on ahead. Whatever you think is best  

Ok if your happy I'll leave it for now as I noticed Jim has posted above and it's now back on track.

[ccarr06]

Hi CC how’s the methotrexate going is it working for you ?

Hi Jim,

I'm on 20mg a week at the moment. I seem to still need to use topical treatments to be clear. Once I wean off an ointment, it starts to creep back. I'm back with my consultant next week, and may possibly move to injections of Methotrexate, which will cost 4 times more what I pay for the tablets so I may see about hoping the tablets first if possible.

How are you?

[jiml]

Hi CC how’s the methotrexate going is it working for you ?

Hi Jim,

I'm on 20mg a week at the moment. I seem to still need to use topical treatments to be clear. Once I wean off an ointment, it starts to creep back. I'm back with my consultant next week, and may possibly move to injections of Methotrexate, which will cost 4 times more what I pay for the tablets so I may see about hoping the tablets first if possible.

How are you?

Hi I'm fine thanks CC ...the Fumaderm is still working for me .....when I was on Methotrexate I was on 10 x2.5mg tablets and it worked well for me ....so you could ask if you can increase the dose as long as your bloods are good and your liver and kidneys are tolerating it ....but for me the side effects got too much ..that's when I switched to Fumaderm .

[ccarr06]

Hi CC how’s the methotrexate going is it working for you ?

Hi Jim,

I'm on 20mg a week at the moment. I seem to still need to use topical treatments to be clear. Once I wean off an ointment, it starts to creep back. I'm back with my consultant next week, and may possibly move to injections of Methotrexate, which will cost 4 times more what I pay for the tablets so I may see about hoping the tablets first if possible.

How are you?

Hi I'm fine thanks CC  ...the Fumaderm is still working for me .....when I was on Methotrexate I was on 10 x2.5mg tablets and it worked well for me ....so you could ask if you can increase the dose as long as your bloods are good and your liver and kidneys are tolerating it ....but for me the side effects got too much ..that's when I switched to Fumaderm .

I'm glad to hear the Fumadern is still working for you Jim. I'm not entirely sure if they'll be willing to increase the doseage in tablet format judging by the phone call I made to enquire about it, but I'll push for it, financially it'll be tough. I've been very fortunate in that I've had no side effects really since the initial stages which was probably due to low iron and b12 more than Methotrexate. I never expected to tolerate it so well.

[jiml]

It's great to read that you are managing on Methotrexate so well without side effects ...it seems as if perhaps they may let you increase by one tablet if your bloods are ok and if liver is ok .....oh didn't you have something with your kidneys? ...but if they are functioning well perhaps they might increase a bit...

I thought Methotrexate was a cheap drug CC and that was why they offer it first ...is it expensive in Ireland and is it possible to get a prepayment certificate ( I'm sure I've asked before but I'm getting a bit forgetful and can't remember )

[Caroline]

Indeed very good that your are doing fine on MTX. Hope it will stay that way for you and will be safe for you.

About the price it should be a cheap medication, i have read in the information the UMC hospital in Utrecht, that in 2013 about 64000 patients have received methotrexate for 62 Euro per person, so in my eyes that is very cheap.
Of course still less is Bill's DMF, but he beats everything.  

[ccarr06]

@jim and @caroline, I should clarify on the price issue. Tablet form is really cheap, it's about €30 a month for my 32 monthly tablets. But if they switch me to injection form, it I'll be €140 per month. I have a card which means I pay up to €144 per month, and the government pays the rest. I work so that means I don't qualify for a medical card, which gives you prescriptions for almost nothing. Hence why I would really like to avoid that switch.

[jiml]

Thanks for clarifying CC I can understand your reluctance to change now, plus if you can stay on tablets you won’t have to inject yourself €140 a month is a big chunk out of an already taxed income. To me it seems unfair that people with chronic disease like Psoriasis should have to constantly pay for their medication

I wish you luck and hope you can stay on the tablets  

[Maryam]

Indeed very good that your are doing fine on MTX. Hope it will stay that way for you and will be safe for you.

About the price it should be a cheap medication, i have read in the information the UMC hospital in Utrecht, that in 2013 about 64000 patients have received methotrexate for 62 Euro per person, so in my eyes that is very cheap.
Of course still less is Bill's DMF, but he beats everything.  

Yes, in the Netherlands the injection is even cheaper than the pills. I think it is 13 euro's per dose, which boils down to 62 euro's per person per month.