Scared of methotrexate? Stop hiding from it and learn how it may (or may not) be the med for you

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Күн бұрын

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@cathygray4923 2 ай бұрын

I had been on methotrexate for 5 years for Lupus and RA and recently stopped to see how my body feels without it. (Yes it was okay with my doctor ) I’ve been off for 3 months and haven’t noticed any negative effect, The amazing part is I feel more alert and cognitive functioning has gotten better like before I started methotrexate. I’m just sharing my experience. .

@denisegrogan4641 2 ай бұрын

I WOULD STAY OFF OF IT. TRY HUMIRA OR ENBREL. MY SED RATE IS HIGH NOW DUE COVID. I COULDN'T TAKE MY HUMIRA.

@Justme-wu5nw 2 ай бұрын

Your content is excellent, I’m 65 with psoriatic arthritis bad ! I had a doctor prescribe injection able peptides that were made at a legal compounding pharmacy as an alternative it cost me a fortune and made it worse ! It was my idea,secondly I use to drink black coffee large at Starbucks at least twice a day my only vice in life is caffeine, after I stopped using there paper cups that if you read are lined with plastic my psoriatic arthritis got way better very fast !

@ElainesAutoimmuneAdventure 2 ай бұрын

I’d totally love a full video on CAR-T and the future of it in Rheumatology. I’m especially curious about its possible use for refractory RA. Thank you for another great video, Dr. Ortiz!

@CMBiggin 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for this video. I’ve been researching methotrexate and other treatment options for my next rheumatologist appointment. I’ve had an autoimmune disease since 2009 but was only told this year it’s MCTD and mild arthritis. I was originally on chloroquine but had to change to hydroxychloroquine after 6 months. Several years ago ago I had to stop due to chloroquine toxicity. I’ve been on sulfazalazine since then but it mainly only helps with brain fog. It’s been at least the last 2 years that I feel it’s been out of control. I have little short term memory, constant pain, extreme fatigue, etc. My gp gave me prednisone for 3 weeks and I felt ALIVE. Now I am back to pushing myself through work and spending my evenings and weekends in bed. 😢 I’m really hoping my rheumatologist will work with me for a medication change at my August appointment.

@alisalavine1052 2 ай бұрын

I'm so sorry you're not being treated effectively. I am sensitive to meds and tried MTX but didn't tolerate it due to stomach issues. I was on leflunomide for about 10 months and felt great on it but it was causing neuropathy. Are you able to take a biologic? After I had a few scans late last year, my doctor saw enough evidence for me to start biologics. I was on Humira for 3 months but my symptoms kept getting worse. I started Enbrel about 6 weeks ago and I've improved a good 60%. I have PsA with axial spondylitis and Sjogren's. I hope you're able to get some relief from your disease soon!❤

@shabskerketta 25 күн бұрын

@alisalavine1052 Hello, I was diagnosed with PsA 5 months ago. Since then I have taken corticosteroids injection, prednisone 15mg then 10 mg then 5 mg then 2.5 mg and now again 5 mg along with Sulfasalazine 1 mg. I took my first methotrexate 15 mg today and I'm feeling restless. I'm eating so much medicine and scared of side effects. My PsA is not getting under control, my right knee is swollen and I'm limping. Is it safe to take so many meds at a time what are the alternatives?

@alisalavine1052 25 күн бұрын

Yes, it is safe to take all these medications. Unfortunately, having our disease means lots of different. For most of us when we are diagnosed, we start on oral medications like what you're taking to suppress our crazy immune systems. . There aren't very many on the list and it's normal protocol to try several of these oral meds before moving on to stronger treatments like biologics. Adding MTX might help reduce your symptoms. But it might not. It's really important that you let your rheumatologist know about any new symptoms. In my case, none of the medications that come in pill form were a good fit for me. One of them, leflunomide, worked well for about 8 months but I never stopped having symptoms and they developed in new joints. I am on my second biologic and I've seen 50-60% improvement but I'm still dealing with symptoms that are worsening. In fact, I may be having hip surgery in a few months because of the PsA. Something that isn't talked about a lot but you can look it up, is that there can be a rebound effect with immunosuppressants if there are breaks between switching meds. Symptoms worsen and are like a flare. I think if you Google immunosuppressant rebound you can read about it. Here's the frustrating part, it takes a long time to find the right medication for our disease, especially if you're a bit older and went undiagnosed for a long time like me. Definitely let your doctor know about the knees. They might want to do a MRI scan. If your doctor can see with Xrays and MRIs that you have active inflammation and erosions, they might switch you to a biologic. This has the potential to really control the disease. Autoimmunity is hard. Someone told me recently that her rheumatologist always says that rheumatologists are more like scientists than doctors because autoimmunity is so hard to treat. I hope the MTX helps you. And don't wait until your next appointment to let your doctor know what's going on. Especially if you continue to get worse like having new joint pain. I'm sorry you have this diagnosis but I can imagine you feel relief just knowing what's wrong with your body. I think we all feel that way. All drugs have their pros and cons. As do alternatives. The ONLY way to stop the progression of our disease is through prescription medications. Alternatives therapies are a great addition to the prescription meds. You'll find what works for you with trial and error. They can definitely help your symptoms. But again, they can't stop or slow down the disease. So many people find something really helps lessen their symptoms and because they feel better, they think that they are controlling the disease. But the disease is still running rampant. Sorry this was so long. I hope it helps. Stay strong. 🩷

@travelinglilly4380 2 ай бұрын

I took it for 15 years in combination with other biologicals and had mixed results. It worked for a short time very well in reducing my RA. Eventually things changed and my markers started to rise again despite the methotrexate and my side effects increased. It wasn’t until some of the newer meds came out that I could come off it and maintain functionality. Early in my treatment methotrexate was a great benefit and gave me a lot of relief when combined with my other medications. It definitely has its pros and cons in treatment, for me the nausea and lung problems were my worst side effects that never went away while on it.

@kathykonkle1097 2 ай бұрын

I got upset stomach so bad I couldn't take other meds like anti-inflammatory, my hair fell out in a shocking manner and my feet swelled up so that I could not wear shoes. I saw zero benefit and am scared to try again. I see no reason to trust any doctors anymore. I wasn't even told about lung issues and I have serious lung problems. I'm livid. I thought I finally found a good rheumatologist. I guess there's no such thing.

@markbrinson6090 2 ай бұрын

I have swelling in my feet and lower legs, I will have to bring that up at next appointment. Curious, do you also have problems with pimple like bumps on you arms?

@denisegrogan4641 2 ай бұрын

TRY HUMIRA

@cobscamping6909 2 ай бұрын

As methotrexate was designed for cancer and they now have specific drugs disigned for rheumatoid arthritis. Why are rheumatologist still prescribing methotrexate as a starting drug. When you search KZbin for Rheumatoid arthritis its all about methotrexate and very little about any of the other drugs. People like to be more informed of there options.

@HopefulEmpath 2 ай бұрын

I wasn’t offered methotrexate until my 4th rheumatologist. The 1st one (2015) put me on prednisone and suggested sulfasalazine. The 2nd rheumatologist (2015) just kept me on prednisone but couldn’t answer any of my questions. At that point I was still dx as UCTD. MY 3rd rheumy (2016) dx’d me with “an aggressive form of RA” and SLE. He kept me on prednisone and put me on plaquenil and added azathioprine. But in the Visit Notes I noticed he stated that I refused Methotrexate but it wasn’t offered! My 4th rheumy (2018) said I didn’t have RA or SLE, kept me on prednisone but was the first one to offer me methotrexate “just in case” and I told her I don’t take meds “just in case.” My 5th rheumy (2023) confirmed that I didn’t have RA or SLE but rather MCTD. Suggested I go back on plaquenil even though I have eye damage from it. I refused and she noted that I “have a history of non-compliance.” Great. I complied, I sure did, and took prednisone all these years! I’m still on prednisone (since 2015) and was told for the 1st time that I need to see an endocrinologist to wean off it. I self-tapered from 10mg to 7.5mg. I don’t trust any doctor anymore.

@alisalavine1052 2 ай бұрын

Hello, Dr. Ortiz, Thank you, for stating that Sjogren's isn't as simple as dry eyes and dry mouth. I see so many women online in support groups that get dismissed by their rheumatologists when they have joint problems or even GI issues along with their Sjogren's. They will get treatment for their Sjogren's symptoms but not for systemic problems. I have Sjogren's as well as PsA with axial involvement. I would love to see a video about PsA with AxSpa. Axial symptoms are often overlooked in PsA patients and diagnosed as osteoarthritis, DDD, etc. It took thirty years for me to get diagnosed because my axial symptoms were the first symptoms I had. You can probably imagine how much damage was done over the years which led to permanent disability. My experience isn't unique and a conversation about this topic could really help those that have lost hope. Thank you, for all that you do!❤

@kenjimrankin7485 2 ай бұрын

I have been on methotrexate for about 18 years, 15mg per day, and I can identify with almost everything you say, it a balancing act between benefit and risks,

@justso4509 19 күн бұрын

15mg PER *DAY???*

@kellieg1970 4 күн бұрын

@@justso4509I was wondering the same thing. I’m on 20 mg per WEEK

@Carol-ss5iy Ай бұрын

Thank you so much for your channel. Downloading your handbook now.

@debbiewilliams9113 2 ай бұрын

This drug stopped my liver from working properly, and I felt so ill on it. Never again.

@JANsEffectHouse 17 күн бұрын

I just took my first dose last Friday but my abdomen swelling is horrible. And I peed like six times this morning in an hour and have had three out the other end. I hate taking any of this stuff and I'm gonna keep reading up to find Alternative. But I have to be in the system on their medicines to possibly get disability. so much for a free world and good healthcare😮😅😢

@BB-yr4md 2 ай бұрын

This was well timed!! I'm seeing a new Dr on Monday and planned on discussing my methotrexate dose (2 tabs x 2 days a week) as I'm very well controlled since starting prescription vit D about a year ago. Also the meds were not explained to me so I was horrified by what I read on Dr Google 😳 Really appreciate you explaining what to discuss with our treating providers, it cuts through the jargon and settles some fears 💐😊

@denisegrogan4641 2 ай бұрын

RA DEPLETES UR BODY OF VITAMIN D. IT EFFECTS EVERY ORGAN IN UR BODY. IVE HAD RA SINCE 1999.A HORRIFIC DISEASE THEY NEED 2 FIND A CURE 4..NOW MY KNEES R BONE ON BONE . CAN BARELY WALK. HAVE 2 GO 2 STORES THAT HAVE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS. I TAKE HUMIRA . METHOTREXATE MADE ME VERY SICK. I HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY. VALVE REPLACEMENT AT 51 . HAD 2 RETIRE. I CUT HAIR FOR OVER 30 YRS I MISS MY JOB. AFTER MY HEART SURGERY I COULDN'T WORK ANYMORE IM A YOUNG 58. THEY NEED 2 FIND A CURE. GOOD LUCK 2 U

@JANsEffectHouse 17 күн бұрын

my vitamin D was critically low but I was told that you can't absorb vitamin D unless it's made a certain way?

@Littlelillypewee 2 ай бұрын

I started methotrexate and was starting to feel so much better, unfortunately my liver disagreed with it. I was very upset.

@yvonne3903 2 ай бұрын

I reduced my methotrexate recently to see if I still needed a high dose. Within six weeks my eyes got bad, my fatigue increased and my joints started to swell and get sore. So within a few months back to a high dose. I've also changed to injections which has vastly reduced my side effect of diarrhoea.

@zootybeano 2 ай бұрын

I think there is little data for its use in PMR. But then rheumatologists don't seem to deal with PMR. One I saw didn't know much about it at all and refused me as a patient. I think too many of us are on Medicare, and since it is the most common inflammatory condition of the 70+ group, they would go broke. I will never see another rheumatologist after that nasty man. I would refuse MTX, I need my liver. Some of the experts say it takes 6 months to work. I use Plaquenil and LDN instead.

@daphnekivinen9482 2 ай бұрын

The doctors give prescriptions of methotrexate like handing out candy. My son could not tolerate it at all. Please don't give people a false sense that it has no side effects.

@rowanmayfair9249 2 күн бұрын

She didn't.

@daphnekivinen9482 2 күн бұрын

@@rowanmayfair9249 Thanks for your comment. Where I live methotrexate is the first med they prescribe. It's like they want you to have side effects. The folks I know that have taken it are not on it very long. My son has just been prescribed Rinvoq. We'll see how that works. It's very expensive, but not as expensive as Humira or Enbrel. Trying for help from the pharmaceutical company.