Starting MTX

[jiml]

it's unbelievable, I hope you get sorted out soon

[Bill]

It is certainly a counterpoint to other MTX users, and emphasizes the varied responses to treatment. Personally I would not want to be on a treatment that was so fantastically safe and wonderful that the clinicians consider patient treatment records to be part of the National Secrets Act. I dont particularly look forward to my Shanghai shandies, but at least I know that they ultimately help me and pose no risk.

Cheers,

Bill

[pingu]

Well I got my MTX today and after communicating my previous protocol of 5, 10,15,20 my going up 5mg a week the consultant still wants me to do the following.

5mg 2 weeks
7.5mg 2 weeks
10mg 2 weeks
12.5mg 2 weeks
15mg continuing

I have 16 weeks of tablets and they only want 3 blood tests at 2, 6 and 12 weeks. I also have to take FA everyday except my MTX days.

Obviously didn't listen.

I am tempted to take a week out mid course and use the available tablets to build up more quickly, I really don't know. No follow up appointment is currently booked and I know how hard it is to get NHS appointments.

A little bit frustrated but I am back on them and I hope the 15mg works as well as the 20mg did. Time will tell.

On the plus side I do have his secretary's email address and phone number so if I have any queries I can ping them. In fact I need to email about the follow up appointment to get it in my diary. I am sure they think we are just waiting to get an appointment and we don't have busy lives that need planning.

[Fred]

I am tempted to take a week out mid course and use the available tablets to build up more quickly, I really don't know.

Not a good idea.

[jiml]

On the plus side I do have his secretary's email address and phone number so if I have any queries I can ping them. In fact I need to email about the follow up appointment to get it in my diary. I am sure they think we are just waiting to get an appointment and we don't have busy lives that need planning.

Fred is right not a good idea taking a week out

But I would phone his secretary for the appointment and ask for extra tablets to cover you till the next appointment.

[pingu]

I will heed your advice guys and follow the protocol. If it is not working then I need to sort it with them I guess.

We all know how it is, I had amazing results previously and want to get back there as my psoriasis is coming back. The sooner it starts to work the better.

[Fred]

I will heed your advice guys and follow the protocol. If it is not working then I need to sort it with them I guess.

Yep that's the way to go. You must remember that Methotrexate is Toxic and it's not something you should mess with.

[pingu]

Given that I have started taking MTX again would I be safe in the assumption that it will be as effective this time around in alleviating my psoriasis.

Does MTX simply stop being effective after a period of time. I know a lot of people stop using MTX due to better alternatives but I am also interested in how people transition from one therapy to another? Do you stop psoriasis returns and start an alternative? Do you stop MTX and for example jump straight onto Fumaderm?

Just thinking of planning for the future as it would not be difficult to get off MTX all I would have to do is report some well documented side effects and seek an alternative therapy but I am worried about transitioning etc.

[Fred]

Given that I have started taking MTX again would I be safe in the assumption that it will be as effective this time around in alleviating my psoriasis.

Does MTX simply stop being effective after a period of time. I know a lot of people stop using MTX due to better alternatives but I am also interested in how people transition from one therapy to another? Do you stop psoriasis returns and start an alternative? Do you stop MTX and for example jump straight onto Fumaderm?

Just thinking of planning for the future as it would not be difficult to get off MTX all I would have to do is report some well documented side effects and seek an alternative therapy but I am worried about transitioning etc.

No guarantee it will be as effective as it was. Sometimes people have started and stopped a treatment and it's been fine, other times it's never been the same.

Also some treatments just stop working and some will slowly fail, so again it's difficult to say.

And just to not answer your last question. Some treatments need you to come off your last one before going onto another, but with some you can just go onto a different one.

Sorry not a lot of help, and it's just my opinion.

[pingu]

Hi Fred thanks for the rapid response. I wasn't for a minute thinking there was a definitive answer and I assumed mush depends on personal experience and what the consultant will do. I often say "it depends" in my job roll and it pS people off so I can accept that. It helps to prepare for what may lie ahead that is all.

My P is coming back quite aggressively so I can only fight it currently with dovobet but hopefully the MTX will kick in quickly as it did last time.