I Want to Stop Methotrexate

[Kat]

Glad things went well with the nurse.

[Forest Walker]

The injectable is not easy for me to draw into the syringe if I'm tired.  I've done it badly the past few weeks, still getting blasted air bubbles or ending up with a spray of yellow Methotrexate on my bathroom counter.  Also, I feel the daily nausea, although only mild to moderate, even with the injectable.

My dermatologist is on maternity leave, and my next appointment with her is scheduled for August 2.  

My gastroenterologist could prescribe Stelara, but there is a pulmonary issue to consider since the Humira has helped me breathe better these past ten years I've been taking it.  I have a pulmonologist appointment next week and will draw that poor chap into this conversation.  At least to get an idea what I can do if I switch away from Humira and then have worsened lung problems.

The gastroenterologist said that having a gap from taking Humira could lead to a severe allergic reaction upon restarting it.  The Remicade did that, and I had anaphylaxis reactions twice while getting it in the hospital long ago.

I skipped my Methotrexate injection on Friday, needing to rebel against it.  It's hard to cope with that feeling of nausea.  I'm thinking about returning to the oral Methotrexate this Friday.  I've come to loathe the look of the little vials of yellow poison and feel a queasiness as I fill the syringe.  

Ugh!  But the damned stuff works on my skin, which is such a relief that I forget how awful the patches were and the pain and itching and flaking, and I want to stop Methotrexate.

[Caroline]

I fully understand that you want to stop it. You are already way longer on it than I was. You know that I consider it as a poison and that I cannot stand it that it is still being used.

Indeed, if you stop Humira, the restarting can be a problem because you probably will have been building up anti-bodies against it. They may be now suppressed by the MTX, but they can still be there and then you cannot restart, but you have to go to a different and maybe better solution like Stelara.

[Fred]

Go with the Stelara, I doubt it will cause you any lung problems and if it does you can always stop. Give it a try, it's better than the poison that is methotrexate.

[Kat]

If you have problems with the syringe then maybe go and have them given to you? Or someone at home who could help you with filling the syringe and/or the injection? At least until your doctor is off maternity leave.

When I was on Stelara, they had me go in to a medical office for the injections. The other meds have all been pens for me. I think I'd have problems with a syringe. If you do go with something else perhaps consider the prefilled pens. The pens might be easier for you to self administer.

[Fred]

Kat's comment reminded me, I think you can get prefilled syringes of methotrexate if you do want to stay on it.

Maybe worth asking FW.

[D Foster]

Kat's comment reminded me, I think you can get prefilled syringes of methotrexate if you do want to stay on it.

Maybe worth asking FW.

My MTX was prefilled , had no problems with it.

[Kat]

I wasn't sure if you could get Methotrexate in the pen or not.  But glad she may have another option available with the doctor on maternity leave and all.

[Raxyl]

I wasn't sure if you could get Methotrexate in the pen or not.  But glad she may have another option available with the doctor on maternity leave and all.

Hi Kat, I could only find pre-loaded syringes when I was on it but I understand in the UK you can get methotrexate injection pens of various dosages. I won't say the brand here, but maybe they are also available in the US.  If you search "methotrexate pen" you should see them.

[Kat]

I wasn't sure if you could get Methotrexate in the pen or not.  But glad she may have another option available with the doctor on maternity leave and all.

Hi Kat, I could only find pre-loaded syringes when I was on it but I understand in the UK you can get methotrexate injection pens of various dosages. I won't say the brand here, but maybe they are also available in the US.  If you search "methotrexate pen" you should see them.

I did a search and as you said it's under a different name. Good to know FW may have some available options.