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Share your experience: submit a drug review
Below are Methotrexate reviews, ratings, comments submitted by patients and caregivers. Based on a total of 10 ratings/reviews, Methotrexate has an overall score of 7.60. The effectiveness score is 9 and the side effect score is 7.20. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst. This information is not vetted and should not be cosidered as clinical evidence. | | Methotrexate review by 64 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | |  |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| Dosage & duration: | | 20 mg. taken 1 x week for the period of 2 years to present |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | Remicade | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | The combination of weekly 20mg. Methotrexate with an infusion (at the doctor's office) of Remicade has almost completely controlled my rheumatoid arthritis.
I have had no further joint damage, and the initial symptoms of extreme fatigue and pain in the small joints of my hands, wrists, feet and ankles has abated. |
| Side effects: | | None that I am aware of |
| Comments: | | I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis about two years ago and began treatment with a combination of Remicade (infused once every eight weeks over a period of about 2 hours in my doctor's office) and Methotrexate 20 mg. once a week. I take 8 tablets every Friday, 2.r mg. each. I have had no negative side effects from either medication. |
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| | Methotrexate review by 58 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | |  |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Severe Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | psoraitic arthritis |
| Dosage & duration: | | 6 tabs taken daily for the period of 4 years |
| Other conditions: | | psoriasis |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | the treatment masked the psoriasis and what was considered arthritis |
| Side effects: | | increasing all over body pain |
| Comments: | | I started with 4 tabs and increased to 6 as the all over body pain increased and then they were going to put me on prednisone. I opted to turn to homeopathic treatment and weaned off the methotrexate. The all over body pain went completely away but the psoriasis was exacerbated. I'd rather have that than not be able to walk or move. |
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| | Methotrexate review by care giver of 12 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | juvenile rheumatoid arthritis |
| Dosage & duration: | | 15 mg taken once a week for the period of 1 year |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | prednisone, naprosyn | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Methotrexate significantly reduced my daughter's arthritis symptoms, allowing her to resume a normal, active life without joint pain. After being treated with this drug, she has remained symptom free for several years now. She did not have to progress to more expensive arthritis drugs since she responded well to methotrexate. |
| Side effects: | | Thinning hair, weight gain. We don't know if these were due to the methotrexate or other drugs she was on. |
| Comments: | | She took the dosage once a week for about a year, and eventually was weaned off of all her arthritis related drugs. |
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| | Methotrexate review by 54 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| Dosage & duration: | | 25mg taken weekly for the period of Ongoing |
| Other conditions: | | Hypothyroidism, hypercholesterolemia |
| Other drugs taken: | | Synthroid, Ezetrol, Folic Acid | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Control of joint inflammation |
| Side effects: | | None. |
| Comments: | | The methotrexate is administered by subcutaneous injection (self-administered) 25mgs once per week. I have been taking methotexate for approximately 5 years. Foe the first 4 years I took the same dose orally, but it eventually beacme less effective so I switched to subcutaneous injection. It has been extremely effective at controlling the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and I feel 95% normal. |
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| | Methotrexate review by 45 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Severe Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | psoriasis |
| Dosage & duration: | | 30 mg taken 1xweel for the period of 1 year |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | none | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | 95% cleared chronic severe psoriasis from scalp to feet. Extremely easy to administer. |
| Side effects: | | nausea, fatigue, elevated white blood cells, low side of normal liver lab results. |
| Comments: | | took 10 mg every 3 hours for a total dose of 30 mg/wk. Initially started with 15 mg/wk but became tolerant and had to move up to 30 mg/wk |
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| | Methotrexate review by 29 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| Dosage & duration: | | 0.6 mL (dosage frequency: once weekly) for the period of ongoing |
| Other conditions: | | type I diabetes, hypothyroidism, lack of intrinsic factor |
| Other drugs taken: | | novolog insulin, lexapro, mircette, levothyroxin, folic acid, lisinopril | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Treatment benefits from taking methotrexate included significantly reduced inflammation in the joints which led to reduced pain. Overall fatigue was also minimized. |
| Side effects: | | The day after the injection I was extremely worn out. Almost like having the flu. I took the shot on Friday nights, went to bed around 11pm, and then wasn't able to get up before noon the next day, simply due to severe fatigue. After Saturday, I typically felt pretty good, though. |
| Comments: | | Once weekly injections with methotrexate. Also took prescription-strength folic acid to minimize any side effects. |
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| | Methotrexate review by care giver of 17 year old male patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | psoriasis |
| Dosage & duration: | | 15mg per week taken 1 x per week for the period of continuing for past 22 mos. |
| Other conditions: | | Down syndrome, hypothyroidism |
| Other drugs taken: | | tegratol, synthroid, topical steroid | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Relieved the plaque psoriasis which was over 90% of skin and extremely uncomfortable. |
| Side effects: | | Vomiting and nausea on days the drug was ingested, rebound effect(return of plaque) when attempting to decrease the medication; liver blood levels need monitoring while on the drug. |
| Comments: | | Patient had onset of psoriasis and was treated with topical steroids. Psoriasis quickly spread over entire body and methotrexate was recommended. It worked quickly to eliminate the plaque on the trunk of body, but patient has been unable to wean from the drug because psoriasis has never completely gon away on arms and legs. We are now looking at Enbrol. |
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| | Methotrexate review by 38 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | rhumitoid arthritis |
| Dosage & duration: | | 12 pills per dose (not sure of dosage) taken once a week for the period of still taking, now about 7 years |
| Other conditions: | | minor sores like blemishes, heal more slowly, feel tired after taking |
| Other drugs taken: | | meloxicam | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | Less pain, less inflamation, slows down degeneration of disease. can function normally where before had severe pain in joints, especially in feet, knees, and made it extremely hard to walk, wear shoes, bend at knees. |
| Side effects: | | minor sores like blemishes heal more slowly. After taking, i'm tired in the morning |
| Comments: | | originally 10 now 12 pills once a week |
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| | Methotrexate review by 44 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
| Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| Dosage & duration: | | 15 mg taken once per week for the period of three years (continuing) |
| Other conditions: | | none |
| Other drugs taken: | | folic acid and a calcium/vitamin D supplement | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | My severe pain and joint swelling diminished soon, and I have had few painful moments (and nothing like the pain I had before my diagnosis). |
| Side effects: | | mild hair loss |
| Comments: | | After starting RA treatment with plaquenil and feeling few changes, my doctor encouraged me to try methotrexate. My severe pain and joint swelling diminished soon, and I have had few painful moments (and nothing like the pain I had before my diagnosis). I have stopped taking plaquenil. The only side effect I have noticed is thinning hair. I miss having a glass of wine once in a while, but the lack of pain makes that sacrifice worthwhile. I take folic acid each day. |
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| | Methotrexate review by 47 year old female patient | | | Rating |
| Overall rating: | | |
| Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
| Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | |
Treatment Info |
| Condition / reason: | | rheumatoid arthritis |
| Dosage & duration: | | 15mg taken once a week for the period of 6years |
| Other conditions: | | High blood pressure |
| Other drugs taken: | | bendroflumetazide | | |
Reported Results |
| Benefits: | | To reduce high blood pressure. To reduce pain and inflammation of Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| Side effects: | | Feeling Tired, lethargic. Dry skin , dry mouth, dry eyss. Nausea. When I actually take the methotrxate I feel as if I have a temperature and cannot do much for the first day. 48 hours hours after taking methotrexate I take a 5mg dose of Folic acid to reduce the most harmful side effects of taking methotrexate. |
| Comments: | | I take one 15mg dose of methotrexate once a week along with sulphasalazine and naproxen to reduce activity of my very active rheumatoid arthritis. The pain and inflammation is still there but has reduced slightly. I also take Bendroflumethazide to reduce high blood pressure taken on a daily basis. I have researched on the internet and found I need to increase my daily intake of water/fluids. This has never been mentioned in the contraindications or by my GP. I understand the reason for increasing fluid intake is because the medication I take is cytoxic and I need to keep my kidneys and liver flushed as much as possible, which is why patients who take methotrexate and sulphasalazine have monthly blood tests. |
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