here is my prescribed treament.need oppion about side effects

[fragil3]

hi guys
here is what i am taking as doctor advise.
Methotrexate 2.5mg five tablets once in a week.
megatar tar base shampoo for my scalp.
this is the third month of treatment with methotrexate.
in the first month, i took three tablets once a week.
second month four tablets once a week.
after two months there is no visible improvement.
there is ointment also which is made by my doctor.i am sure it's not made by any kind of asteroid.from smell  i can say that there is brimstone mixture in it.it is effective  for removing flakes.but when i stop using it flakes come back. 
now i am in my third month of treatment from starting today.
and i am worried about side effects.
pls share your opinions and experience
thanks

[Fred]

pls share your opinions and experience
thanks

I'm not a fan of Methotrexate as there are plenty of other options ought there. Having said that it is still used as a first line oral treatment to try and some do get on with it.

You must have regular blood tests, avoid alcohol and don't use if you are trying to start a family.

I'm sure others will have opinions.

[jiml]

Hi fragil3 .... for me to get clearance on Methotrexate I got up to 10 x2.5mg tablets a week then it cleared my skin rapidly .....but I found the nausea ( feeling sick) and general ill feeling all the time worse than the psoriasis so stopped taking it after around a year ...I think you may need to increase the dose for it to work for you ...and either put up with the side effects or ask for a change of meds if the side effects get too bad

I hope you are also taking folic acid to help with the side effects ...that is fairly standard procedure

The cream your doctor has mixed for you is possibly a salicylic acid concoction to help with the scales

Good luck

[Turnedlight]

I was on methotrexate for about a year. It worked well then stopped working. Your dose may not be high enough yet to get results, your doctor might put it up at some point.

The side effects for me weren't that bad but it does make you feel more tired. As Jiml says, it is standard to take folic acid alongside methotrexate.

There are quite a few different creams to try as well.

[D Foster]

Hi and welcome , like Jim I was on MTX 10 x 2.5 per week oral and was for 6 years but you must take the folic acid ,it worked great for me until the side effects got to much and then I went on to 20mg by injection for a further 3 years but eventually the side effects kicked in again and I had to stop. It is a good treatment if it suits you but like all treatments some work for you and some don't, we are all different . The other stuff you are using sounds like a sulfur based product and the tar based ones have been used for many years .
The thing with MTX is that you cannot drink alcohol and it knocks your resistance levels so if you have any bugs in your food ,which dairy products tend to have, stomach upsets are very easy to get which is the main problems anyway with MTX.

[Fred]

Fragil3 I forgot to mention if you don't know much about Methotrexate this thread may help: Methotrexate

[Kat]

I've never used Methotrexate, but wanted to wish you good luck on your treatment.

[fragil3]

thanks for your replies guys
can any body tell what kind of blood test should i do?
and about folic acid.my doctor did not told me about folic acid can i took it my self?

[Fred]

thanks for your replies guys
can any body tell what kind of blood test should i do?
and about folic acid.my doctor did not told me about folic acid can i took it my self?

I'm not sure exactly what test is done on the blood, but I do know it should be done. Your doctor giving the prescription should know which tests should be run.

As for the folic acid. I think it is taken once per week to help combat the side effects.

Sorry I don't know more, but hopefully another member with more knowledge will chip in soon.

[jiml]

thanks for your replies guys
can any body tell what kind of blood test should i do?
and about folic acid.my doctor did not told me about folic acid can i took it my self?

From what I've read testing should include a complete blood count, to measure red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts, and platelets; a blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, to evaluate kidney function and a liver function test.

And should be done monthly

Hope that helps