Just wondering if anyone is taking this, and if so, how are you feeling? My rhemy just perscribed me the medication and I have no given myself the shot yet...kinda nervous...

They told me the stomach is the best place. Anyone else have advice, please let me know.
thanks,
jenmik

Hi Jenmik,

My doctor wants me to try the injection. I've been on 6 pills a week for the past 4 months. I went to CVS and they could not order it. It's on back order at the manufacturer. They don't know when it will be available.

Thanks for posting the question. I'll benifit from the answers as well.

Wendysj

hello wendysj!

I just started these injections last week. I was taking 10 mtx pills for the past year. YUCKY! that is what I felt every time it came to take them little yellow things. And I tell you, when I gave myself my first injection, it did not hurt, I could not feel it and was so relieved that I did not have to stand there with a glass of water and a million pills!!! (after a while, I could not stomach looking at them, let alone trying to force myself to swollow them things.) I would become sick to my stomach everytime, and would put off taking them!
It may sound crazy, but the shot is alot easier for me! Should of done this earlier!

Good luck,,,,oh, for me the small the needle the better!!

Hi Jenmik,

I'm so happy to hear you are doing better with the injection. I think i will too. I have type 1 Diabetes as well, so I'm used to shots. I will be giving the shots in my leg. I have the insulin pump site in my stomach.

I called a local Wal-greens and they have the injectable mtx. I will be taking my first shot on Sunday. I'm kind of worried the side effects may be worse with the shot. Did you notice any difference? Unfortunately, the mtx has not worked at all in controling my swelling, pain and fatigue. The doctor wants me to try the injections before starting something else. I'm trying to be patient but the side effects has been pretty bad with no improvement of my symptoms.

Thanks for your help. I'm really happy the shot didn't scare you off and it will make it easier for you to control your RA!

Jamie

I injected myself with the mtx na for about 2 years and got pretty good results. I injected it into my hip (where I had the most fat at the time;-} and I rotated hips. I used smallest needles I could and it wasn't too bad.

Is there a reason you can't take it orally? I finally got tired of injections of Enbrel, MTX so I asked my Rhuemy for oral MTX. I took 6 mg/day - but am currently not on it due to being in an RA research study. See my other post for info.

Anyway it's not that hard to just jab your hip b/c you don't really have to look at it while doing it. Don't try to rush the plunger-it doesn't take that long. really like 30 sec. max. Wipe off the site with alcohol towelet and put your sharp in a safety container for disposal.

Good luck - hope it helps.

Hi Jenmik,

I took my first shot on Monday. I chose to take the shot in my thigh. You're right, I couldn't feel it either! I have not had much luck with MTX thus far. I've taken it now for nearly 4 months. I haven't seen any reduction in my swelling, pain or fatigue. I was hoping that maybe my body would use the shot better than then pills. So far, there has been no change.

How long did MTX take to help you? I still have to take 5 to 10 mgs of Prednisone and even that doesn't take away all the swelling and pain. I have not notice any difference at ALL with my fatigue. (People worry about the flu... I feel like I get it once a week!) My doctor said I would have to try it for 4 months before adding Enbrel (or another drug). I'm starting to lose my patients with this.

Thanks for your answers.

I hope you are having a good week!
wendysj

hey :o) well im confused did u actually ask for the MTX injection? ive been takeing 10 pills every week for a year, doesnt do anything atall i dont think, even with the enbriel, ive been takeing 7.5mg predisoline for 2years now too (not good i kniow). do u think that it might be worth asking for the injection of MTX? xx

Good Luck wendy with your shots!!!

I hope you find some relief in the injections!! I also take 10mg of predisone a day. It took me about 5 months to get any kind of relief from the mtx/predisone combo. I have been on mtx, 10 pills weekly and the swelling is not too bad, but the pain and stiffness and the fatigue is a killer!!! But I also have fibro too!! blah...

Now that I have done 3 mtx injections, it is not so bad, and it sure beats taking all those pills!!

Good luck to you!!!
Jenmik

I did not ask for the injections, I just told her that I really was not feeling any better and that it was hard for me to swollow all the pills. So she thought it would be better to try the injections. For me, its better than taking 10 pills!!! Now i just have to stomach 6 pills a day,
and a quick painless shot once a week!

it does not hurt to talk to your doctor about the injections. it just may work for you!
best of luck, tammy_Jane!!!

Hi wendy,

hey on your MTX injection, what does your bottle say? I was just wondering if it is the same as mine.

Mine states that it is mtx and also says isotonic solution....that it is a methotrexate sodium that is equvilent to 50mg of methotrexate....HUMMM...

just wondering...have a great day!

Hi Jenmik!

Mine says 25mg/mL and "contains preservatives".

There was some confusion with the 2 pharmacies I asked to find the MTX injectable. CVS/Walgreens actually talked to each other to figure out what the doctor wrote on the prescription.

Walgreens, the pharm that actually got it, spoke to me in detail a couple of times. She needed to know if I was to get 25 or 50 mg/mL. She was also trying to confirm if I should have the preservatives or not. She ended up talking to my doctor to give me this bottle.

http://www.drugs.com/pro/methotrexate-injection.html#DA

This website gives a lot of information. (It's scary this medication is a chemotherapy drug.)

Wendysj

I use to take it, gave myself the shots just above my knee once a week. I did find it helped ease swelling in my hands, also found out last nov. that it was raising problems with my lungs, i now have to be on oxygen all the time and that is a pain. good luck Lois