DRUG INTERACTIONS: Using non-steroidal antiinflamatrory drugs (NSAIDs) before or during methotrexate treatment may result in serious adverse events because NSAIDS may increase the blood concentrations of methotrexate. Combining methotrexate with drugs that adversely affect the liver or kidneys may result in additional liver or kidney toxicity.

PREGNANCY: Methotrexate should not be used in pregnancy,as it can be toxic to the embryo and can cause fetal defects and spontaneous abortion (miscarriage). It should be discontinued prior to conception if used in either partner. Male patients should stop taking methotrexate at least 3 months prior to a planned conception and females should discontinue use for at least one ovulatory cycle before conception.

NURSING MOTHERS: Methotrexate is excreted in breast milk and should not be used by nursing mothers.

SIDE EFFECTS: Methotrexate can be well tolerated, but also can cause severe toxicity which is usually related to the dose taken. The most frequent reactions include mouth sores, stomach upset, and low white blood counts. Methotrexate can cause severe toxicity of the liver, kidneys and bone marrow, which require regular monitoring with blood tests. It can cause headache and drowsiness which may resolve if the dose is lowered. Methotrexate can cause itching,, skin rash,, dizziness, and hair loss. dry, non-productive cough can be a result of rare lung toxicity.

WARNING: Methotrexate has rarely caused serious (sometimes fatal) side effects. Therefore, this medication should be used only to treat cancer or more severe cases of psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis. Methotrexate has caused birth defects  and fetal death. Women must avoid becoming pregnant while taking this medication. Pregnant women who have psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis must not use methotrexate. (See also Precautions) If you have kidney problems or excess body water (ascites, pleural effu sion), you must be closely monitored and your dose may be adjusted or stopped by your doctor. Methotrexate (usually at high dosages) has rarely caused severe (sometimes fatal) bone marrow suppression (decreasing your body's ability to fight infections) and stomach/intestinal disease (e.g., bleeding) when used at the same time as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs such as indomethacin, ketopro  Therefore, NSAIDs should not be used with high-dose methotrexate. Caution is advised if you also take aspirin. NSAIDs/aspirin may be used with low-dose methotrexate such as for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis if directed by your doctor. If you are using low-dose aspirin (81-325 mg per day) for heart attack and stroke prevention continue to take it unless directed otherwise. Consult your doctor regarding safe use of these drugs (e.g., close monitoring by your doctor, maintaining stable doses of NSAIDs). In rare instances, this drug may also cause liver problems when it is used for long periods of time. If you are using methotrexate long-term, a liver biopsy carinii pneumonia), skin reactions, diarhhea and mouth sores (ulcerative stomatitis). (See also Side Effects.) Lumps (tumors/abnormal growths) may very infrequently appear during methotrexate use. If this occurs, the drug must be stopped and treatment may be needed. Consult your doctor immediately if new lumps/growths occur. When used to treat tumors, methotrexate sometimes causes side effects due to the rapid destruction of cancer cells (tumor lysis syndrome). Tell your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms such as irregular heartbeat or muscle weakness. Although rare, this medication when used with radiation treatment may increase the risk of tissue and bone damage. Discuss the risks and benefits of your treatment plan with your doctor.

Obtained from medicinenet.com


I am not going to read or worry about it anymore.  I know I need some more help and this is the next step unfortunately.  Another comment!!  THANK YOU!   I was not as smart / lucky as you to buy HGSI at $3 ; I gave it a lot of thought but just couldn't handle the risk  but I scooped it up as soon as the market opened the day Benlysta passing phase 2 was announced.  Thank you for the information on the FDA  estimated approval time line.  That even reinforces more that I need to get on MTX now because I can't handle the pain until the 3rd quarter.  But that would be great if they qualified for fast track.  As you said, it has been over 50 YEARS, if any drug should qualifies for fast track approval, a lupus drug should!

Another night of falling asleep on the couch around 9 once all the kids fell asleep and then waking up at 3 am.  My mind is not tired at all and surprisingly my body feels okay with my last pain pill at 8!!  I have been feeling a little better the last 2 days and the only thing I can attribute it to is I changed anxiety pills to Xanax so I have been less anxious during the day and added Flexural as a muscle relaxant.  With Flexural and Mirapex for restless leg syndrome taken at night, I am sleeping a little better.  Oh funny story. I went to a play with my MIL and SIL during the week and I had just gotten the flexural.  I can't make it more than a 1/2 hour through a movie without intense muscle aches from sitting in the same place.  I went to the movies for the first time alone with my husband in years on our last anniversary (Transformers, yes, I am such a boy's Mom and I spent the last 1 1/2 hours in intense pain and totally miserable.  So, back to the play with MIL & SIL.  We are all so excited to see this awesome play and I decide to take a pain pill and one of the new muscle relaxants on the chance it will prevent the pain from ruining my fun.  Very, very bad idea.  I ended up sleeping part of the first half and the majority of the 2nd half.  I kept waking up and trying soooo hard not to fall asleep again to no avail.  My sister in law even said I was  snoring a little!  I have to laugh but at the time I was upset, embarrassed, and hadn't figured out yet that it had to be the muscle relaxant.  My MIL spent a lot on the tickets, it was the first time in years that the 3 of us had gone out alone together and I fall asleep!  But she (MIL) was completely cool about it and didn't notice as much because I was angled more towards my SIL.  Oh yeah, I forgot to mention,  my luck, I was sitting BETWEEN them, haha!!

So hopefully this isn't a fluke and I am feeling a little better.  It would be nice to take a break from this flare I have had pretty consistently since my son was born 18 months ago.  Oh, my baby is getting so big,  I don't want him to grow up but  at the same time it is incredible to learn more of his personality,.  He is going to be quite a character, keep his parents on their toes, just like his older brother does.   I love my boys more than anything in this world and I am so blessed.  I was real achy today but I had promised my oldest he could go to the grocery store with me.  Whenever we go someplace just the two of us, we keep the radio off and just talk the whole time.  He says to me as we are getting out of the car at Walmart, I am so glad that we go to the store together so we can talk the whole time and then he took my hand without the ususal argument that he is too old and we walked into the store together.  It just melted my heart.  And it reinforces that it is QUALITY time that is important to kids.  It doesn't matter if I am too tired to get out of bed, we lay in bed and play flight if Mommy is slightly sick, read and color if Mommy is a little worse for wear and watch movies or tv when Mommy is really hurting and has 3 heating pads on her neck, her feet and her hands and can hardly think of anything but the pain and fatigue.  So then i snuggle with him while he watches his movie and Mommy sleeps.  It is all quality time and I need to stop feeling guilty.

Well. good night all and sweet dreams.  More Comments Please --- if you are reading and liking this, let me know.   I would love to hear from you!  And  to comment # 4 (yeah!) enjoy the HGSI ride. I will be thinking of you as it climbs and congratulations on your remission!  If you attribute it to anything, PLEASE let me know,  I would love to here more as I am sure anyone else reading would too.  I am very much looking forward to my own remission...I know it will come for me and all of you luppies out there.  Big, gentle hugs.

xoxo

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