Methotrexate

By sabrina88

1 min read

Hi all. New to here and glad I found it. I have suffered for two years with RA and using Hydroxy. Unfortunately that is no longer working and due to change to methotrexate but very scared! Just looking for some positive stories on it treating this chronic pain. Thank you 😊

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Erin Rush Community Admin
HI <inline-mention user-id="3231112" username="sabrina88"/> ! I am sorry that hydroxychloroquine is no longer working for you. It's always a bummer when a treatment quits being effective and you have to try a new one. Like any treatment for RA, what works well for one person may not work as well for another. That said, I hope methotrexate is a good fit for you, with minimal side effects. Here is a piece from our site about one person's switch to methotrexate -- <a href='https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/fearing-methotrexate-side-effects/' target='_blank'>https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/fearing-methotrexate-side-effects/</a>. You might find the many community member comments following the article helpful as well. I hope this helps and thank you for reaching out! Please keep us posted on how you are doing and adjusting to methotrexate, if you go that route, and only if you feel comfortable sharing with us. Best, Erin, <a href='http://RheumatoidArthritis.net' target='_blank'>RheumatoidArthritis.net</a> Team Member.
Richard Faust Community Admin
Hi Sabrina88. It is good that you are doing a little research to find out about the experiences of others on a drug that will be new to you. Methotrexate is certainly one of the drugs with a longer track record for treating RA. While it certainly has potential side effects that should be watched for, it has a known safety profile, which your doctor should be able to discuss with you (this article from our editorial team gives a general overview: <a href='https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/treatment/methotrexate/' target='_blank'>https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/treatment/methotrexate/</a>). It is often used as a stand-alone drug or in combination with other treatments, which makes it quite versatile. In this article our contributor Carla looks at the long history of the drug and the versatility and asks whether it is actually underutilized: <a href='https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/methotrexate-under-utilized/' target='_blank'>https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/methotrexate-under-utilized/</a>. Hope this information is helpful and feel free, if you like, to keep us posted on how you are doing. Wishing you the best. Richard (RheumatoidArthritis.net Team)
sejaldatta Member
Hi Sabrina, Sorry to hear that Hydroxycloroquine has stopped working for you. I had a similar experience with both Hydroxychloroquine and Methotrexate. I have stopped both meds now, and my flare ups are rare. I say that, but I am suffering from one right now, but I found that visiting a chiropractor and having a deep tissue massage really helps ease the pain and flare up. Methotrexate worked really well for me for many years, however it was my own choice to stop taking them. I suffered no side effects (yaye). Don't be scared, just know you're not alone and you have a community behind you to help and guide you. I hope it all goes well for you, I'd love to hear how you're doing if you're happy to share. Good luck and stay safe.