Side effects from Methotrexate (Otrexup)

[tnthudson]

Hello,
My 17 y.o. is finally doing better with his U.C. (thank God) several months into the Remicade & Methotrexate treatments, finally off of prednisone, etc. and has had a fairly 'normal' life for a little while, except...
He's having some side effects within a day after the Methotrexate injection. This last time, we had changed insurance and went about 10 days between shots, and he was pretty ill yesterday (took the shot the night before), and even worse this morning. Mostly nausea and queasiness, but some feelings of 'bad gas' and fear of having a bathroom accident, much like when he was in a flare.
Anyone have much experience with this? We're hoping it will get better eventually, the GI wants him to be on the injections for awhile before possibly going to oral Methotrexate.

 

[Farmwife]

Does your son take folic acid? Most Gi's have people take it if their taking mtx.
My girl gets sick if we run out of it.

 

[Maya142]

My daughter got very sick and miserable with MTX. Zofran (which is given for nausea) helped some. She was also given Leucovorin which is folinic acid and is used as a "rescue" drug with cancer patients, and can reverse some of the effects of MTX. That helped too.
Rheumtologists tend to prescribe Leucovorin more than GI's in our experience.

My daughter had diarrhea and urgency the day after the shot too. We were never able to find a solution for it. We give the shot Friday or Saturday nights so she can sleep off the effects and she has a day to rest at home.

In our case, her side effects were much worse with the MTX pill and switching to the shot helped quite a bit.

 

[my little penguin]

For Ds 2 mg of folic acid a day and switching to pills helped .
He takes the broken down form of folic acid though.

 

[tnthudson]

Thanks ya'll. Well my DS takes 1 mg folic acid in a tablet daily, maybe I should check into upping that?
And thanks for the info on nausea meds, I may have to see if that's an option from the GI.

 

[CrohnsKidMom]

My son has been on MTX injections for about 18 months. For the first couple months on the med he had looser stools, increased fatigue, and nausea. The looser stool issue has resolved (rather unfortunately for my son, as he suffers from constipation), as has much of the fatigue. The nausea is due in part to anticipating the needle, but he can still feel a bit sick the day following. A prescription anti-nausea med helps some, as does the folic acid. Some drs allow folic acid every day, some every day except injection day (which is our case). I would check with your dr before changing how much or when you give the folic acid. I hope these side affects settle down for your son.

 

[blackli]

I use the injections and used to take 5 mg folic acid once a week. Side effects were rough for several months. Now I take 1-2 mg folic acid daily and it's much better. Still headachy and fatigued for 2 days after but nausea is better. Best of luck

 

[tnthudson]

Thanks again! Much appreciated!

 

[Write2bheard]

My GI just upped the dose of folic acid to 2 mg a day to see if that helps with some of the issues. Just started, but seems to be helping.