Started taking Methotrexate for my RA - was taking Prednisone only. Doctors don't want to see me on Prednisone long term so introducing Methotrexate to treat more of the cause and not the effect of the RA. What are your experiences and concerns? I'm 70 years old. Thank You!

Last resort if it was me. I haven’t taken it but friend next door was put on it. Lymphoma in 6 months and dead in 1 year. If big pharmaceutical companies weren’t giving so much money to FDA no way in (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) 80% of drugs out there would get approved
But only you know the amount of pain you have and is risk worth the outcome. Good luck

You do realize it’s a form of chemotherapy right? Expect to vomit, feel bad, loose weight and spend hours on the toilet. You might already be bald but if not you will be. You know how prednisone made you feel young and pep you up? 180 degrees crash and burn in opposite direction
Google side effects. Then flush it and call your Dr. 65% of people have the ugly side effects.

On another note. My mom and grandma both had RA so bad it disfigured their hands and wrists. Aspirin and absorbing junior only meds they took. Granny had a giant garden until she was 93. Died at 95. Mom still going strong at 82 but is scheduled for knee replacement on 9-11

Have you looked into diet change? I believe Jordan Petersen and his daughter had RA (but could be mistaken) and the carnivore diet lessened their symptoms tremendously

That was part if MVAC therapy. Was tired but never got sick during my treatment.

By coincidence I just got off the phone with my rheumatologist. I hadn't talked with her for two and a half years. Back then she initially prescribed prednisone. I took it for a week, I detected no change in my RA. I was thankful for that; it's side effect can be terrible. She then prescribed hydroxychloroquine, in less than a week I was noticing improvement, and within a month or two my swelled knuckles returned to their normal size and pain was cut by about 90%.

I was prescribed 400mg per day, but only took 200mg. I have been taking 200mg every other day for the past year and things are maintaining perfectly. I now have no pain, joints are normal, and I can now clench my fists.

The only potential negative side effect is vision (very rare). They had me take a eye test at the beginning for a baseline. Just had a follow up eye test recently and found that the drug has had no effect on my vision.

I did ask her if Hydroxychloroquine is recognized for RA, she said that it was.

I have preached the virtues of hydroxychloroquine on here before, it's cheap, and has essentially zero side effects. I suppose the reason the medical establishment doesn't like prescribing it is because it's cheap and works too well. I had my regular doctor tell me that he thought they should put it in the water supply since it works so well; of course he was half joking.

I took it for psoriatic arthritis years ago. Got off it when I found my entire torso black and blue like a giant bruise.
Methotrexate is prescribed for organ transplants as it suppresses the immune system and that's why it works on auto immune diseases. Might ask about celebrex.

I was put on hydroxychloriquine but gave me heart palpatations. One of few side effects and of course I had them..

I have been asking my doctors - both my GP and the Specialist which would they prefer (Prednisone or Methotrexate) to be on if they needed a RA drug. You can be on both at the same time if needed. They said methotrexate has the least side effects and is worth the risk of using it over just prednisone. I never questioned them on hydroxychloriquine but will on my next appointment. I do know that doing nothing to help prevent the progression of RA is not a choice. Thank You all for your input to date and will be looking for more personal experiences and wisdom.

The Rheumatologist diagnosed me with RA and prescribed methotrexate, and a B vitamin, I think. said if you get any serious side effects I'll give you the antidote.

I gave up on it in about a month, had black tarry stool.... When I went back he wanted to put me on an infusion, apart from the side effects of cancer, and the time for it to infuse, it's insanely expensive and medicare doesn't fully reimburse for it. I asked him lets try Hydroxychloroquine.... oh no, he said, it's not strong enough for you....??? of course, cause he does the infusions!, I never went back, I gotta find a doctor that'll prescribe the Hydroxy.....

In the meantime, my fingers are getting crooked and everything hurts, lol.... My Grandma must have had it cause her hands and fingers were a mess, yet she worked like a rented mule into her 90s....

I take Humira for my RA. It is a game changer. It fixed the anemia ( bad stuff) I had. Since taking Humira I haven't had anymore Iritis flare ups in my eyes. Luckily my insurance through work is good on the price. I pay $5 every 90 days. I've been taking it around 6 years I believe. Keeping the weight off helps big time. I need to start focuses more on my diet. My rhumie said sometimes if the humira doesn't work so good, they will give you methatrexate to boost the effects of humira.

Anyone get the infusions? there's several different ones