My experience with Methotrexate

Welcome back again to the second installment of this series, this time about my experience with Methotrexate...

In 2006, the same year I had gone through the tonsillectomy, I had noticed my right knee was very swollen to the point that it was double the size of my left knee. When I had a check up with my dermatologist I had asked about my knee, he then informed me that Psoriatic arthritis is a possibility due to having Psoriasis and he refered me to a rheumatologist to look into it further.

I believe it was around September of the same year that I first saw another new doctor. He checked out my knee and said it was fluid after building up which is why is was that size. He then drained the fluid and showed me it in a cup. It was yellowish in colour 'like Heineken' my doctor proclaimed. I was also given any anti-inflammatory injection in my knee in the hope it would keep it calm.

I saw my doctor every few months and had fluid drained a few times, thankfully not to the extent of my first visit. He gave me a leaflet about Methotrexate (MTX) a tablet (also available in injection form nowadays) which was known to be good for types of Arthritis. I came to the decision I would try it in the hope it would help. I was then sent for a chest X-ray which has to be done upon starting MTX, as well as regular blood tests to keep a check on liver functions, as it can have an effect on the liver. I started on a low dose of 5mg, followed by folic acid two days later. The dosage was increased as the weeks went on, to 15mg, if I remember correctly. MTX can be disruptive to the stomach and I did experience a few stomach aches but it was worth it to help my knees.

I was still on MTX up until Decemeber 2014. Over the years I have had the dosage switched up and down, depending on how bad/ or well behaved my knees were. The highest I was on was 25mg, which did not agree with me back in December and ultimately was the final straw in changing to a biologic which my rheumatologist had always offered as an alternative.

Another reason for going off MTX was due to developing psoriatic arthritis in my left knee and also last year, in my right elbow. I visited my doctor every two to three months and was usually given a steroid injection to help with any inflammation which may have been happening at the time.

I found that MTX was effective for a while, as I was on it long enough but I just found as the years went on I needed to try something different. I think it is a good option to start off on if you are new to psoriatic arthritis and are unsure of the biologics which are usually injections. I have heard other peoples experience with this drug that they could not that it as it would make them feel so ill. Also it is not recommended to drink alcohol while on it due to the possibility of it having an affect on liver function, which is another thing that turns people off. As stated above, it is now available in injection form, something that wasn't an option when I started and I have heard some people say they prefer this method. 

Its all down to personal preference and we need to remember that even if one thing doesn't work for you but works for someone else, there are plenty of options out there. That is something that will ring through when I talk about Enbrel.

Again, any questions you might have about MTX, don't hesitate to ask.

Until next time....

Sarah x