RA - how long does it take for MTX to work?

I take MTX for a skin disease but we are all told the same basic things, it can take 12 weeks before you begin to notice any difference.

I don't feel as though it is doing much for me but I know that if I stop taking it, I immediately feel as though I am swallowing razor blades, so it is obviously doing something.

Can't you contact your Rheumatologist via his secretary?  That is how I contact my Dermatologist.

 

I saw 5 doctors before I was diagnosed with RA...from the original pain in my fingers things got worse & worse until I could hardly lift my head from the pillow...so my feeling is that I would have loved to be in your shoes and to have caught it early before damage to joints. I'm 95% sure that you have RA from the few symptoms you mention but if you have any concerns ring the specialist's secretary for another appointment. I've had more success doing that than going through a GP. I know it's discouraged but have you tried googling your symptoms....are your hands very cold for instance which could be a symptom of something else? Are you near fields that have been spayed with insecticides? However, GP's are recognising RA much quicker these days but if you're worried about MTX ask to cut down on your dosage, or to try another drug. For me, even with side effects, it has been life changing. Very best of luck to you.

Thanks for thoughts so far. Unfortunately I'm between tracks in the health system at the moment. I went private to get a rapid referral to rheumatologist to rule out RA, got an appt within a week, and then my private health insurance cover ran out within one appt. so the rheumatologist told me what to do with the MTX and then contacted my GQP to refer me back to him on the NHS, which is taking about 4 months on the NHS waiting lists. So I'm not formally assigned to him on NHS yet. No-one I can contact other my GPS who are worse than useless.

i knew I had to give this MTX stuff a chancel but now that I'm 12 weeks in with no difference, no inflammation, and still pain, I'm running out of patience. But no side effects either. I might just as well be taking a placebo.

I agree with Mrs Mop. Contact your specialist through the secretary. Although they are difficult to get extra appointments with they are usually willing to speak with you on the phone. I agree the doctors are next to useless. I would certainly not stop taking it until you have spoken to your specialist. Good luck 😊

Just to say my experience with Naproxen was a nightmare - I was driving on the wrong side of the road (quite happy that I was on the correct side!) and I really, really wouldn't want to take it with MTX.

Hi there 😀

i was started on MTX in October 2013 and I took 3 months to stop vomiting 😠

But it stopped suddenly and I have to say I then started feeling better than I had for some time 😀 I was moved up to the maximum dosage in a fairly short time period which could explain the vomiting, but it did seem to make a difference from January 2014, so I would advise you to hang on in there and review it with your rheumatologist in February. Do you have access to a nurse specialist? In my hospital there is a rheumatology team that includes several really good nurse practitioners and if patients have any concerns they can call the rheumatology helpline & leave a message - I've nearly always had a call back within 24 hours, it's a great service.  If you have this at your hospital, it would be worth giving them a call maybe? Hope you feel a bit better soon, good luck 😀

I re located from the east coast to the west so I had to change Rheumis.During my first exam he didn't think I really had RA until he saw the results of my blood work and xrays..I take MTX, Sufasalazine, and folic acid with good results so far Have had a few shots in my fingers which really helped. heard that RA moves around the body and you never know from day to day where it might show up 

Thanks everyone. I'll keep taking the MTX. I was waiting for the magic 12 weeks to pass and then to see results. Which I haven't seen. So I started wondering when you count the 12 weeks from - is it 12 weeks from starting the initial dose of 10mg or 12 weks from when you hit the full dose of 15mg. 

Ho hum. I don't have access to specialist nurses or contact details for the rheumatologistn secretary. I visited the rheumatologist privately in a completely different hospital to the one I am being referred bCk to him on via the NHS (private hospital v NHS hosp). GPs don't even believe I have RA (and I've got opinions from three of them at the local surgery). They say a positive anti CCP result with nothing else to back it up is not enough.

thanks for thoughts. I'll keep taking the flipping MTX until I see the rheumatologist again in feb.,..

Hi. I'm 17 years old and I have juvenile orthopaedic arthritis. I'm starting methotrexate next week and I'm verry woried about the side effects. Would you recomend the injection or the oral pills? Grateful for answers!