My 57 year old female cousin just e-mailed me this morning and said she has been crying all night. Her doctor said that the medication she has been taking for rheumatoid arthritis is not working and he wants to put her on methotrexate or arava (SP?). My cousin is aware of the side effects of methotrexate, a chemotherapy drug, and that's why she is so upset. I did a little research on-line and one of the side effects of the drug is that it can cause tumors. In addition, methotrexate costs $400.00 a month and may not be covered by her insurance. She also has osteoarthritis.

I don't know much about RA or OA, but I read that methotrexate will probably
only relieve symptoms, not cure RA. If that is the case, there must be other treatments/drugs that will relieve symptoms that are not carcinogenic like methotrexate.

I don't blame her for being upset, and I was wondering if anyone is taking methotrexate or if anyone has any advice for her. She did make an appointment to see another doctor at the end of the month.

Thanks.

I was on methx for four months. It took me five years to decide to go on this medication and in the meantime my spine fused. Unfortunately for me the medication in time became a bad thing. At first I had no side affects but as he increased the dose the side affects came flowing. It ate my muscles away I lost so much weight because I felt nauseated all the time and just couldnt eat. If i did eat i would get wind all the time and my throat was so sore that I was hospitalised with my oesaphagus closed shut that I needed steriods to open it again. I was chronically tired that I fell asleep at work. It just simply didnt work for me. I was then put on Arava which I took three doses of and nearly passed out so that is a no go for me too. I am on prednisone at the moment til my rheumy comes back from his vacation and then we will trial something else but no matter what I would try them just to have a better quality of life because there is nothing worse than not being able to do things at 40 years old. It always comes back to quality of life vs medication. I will keep trying til i find the one right for me.
I hope that hasnt scared you too much I am probably just one of the unlucky ones. There are many people that have been on methx for years it truly will depend on your cousins health and how it reacts.
Good luck
Olivia :)