methaltrexate??

[Soutenus]

Need to know anything you can tell me about methaltrexate (spelling)?
My husband has been given this drug and I am really worried about it.
Thank you.

[it is short for Andrea]

>Need to know anything you can tell me about methaltrexate (spelling)?
>My husband has been given this drug and I am really worried about it.
>Thank you.
>
>

Hi... and welcome to the group! The spelling is methotrexate, but it is often
abbreviated mtx around here.

The following links will give you more information than you ever wanted to hear
about mtx.

This one is my favorite, a very useful website of a practicing rheumatologist
in South Africa. His discussion of mtx is in the context of treating
arthritis, but the doses used are similar to those used for psoriasis and of
course psoriatic arthritis and the drug details would be the same:
http://www.arthritis.co.za/methotrexate.htm

This one should give some more recent posts by me on the topic to the
newsgroup:
http://www.pinch.com/skinny?deja=~a+ladyandy*+(methotrexate|MTX)

This one is a drug resource list on the internet that is very useful and
detailed:
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/mtx.htm

This one should get to to the results of a search on the word at the NPF
website (Natl Psoriasis Foundation):
http://www.psoriasis.org/searchtools/wwwwais/npfwais.cgi

Now for the warnings that are given about mtx, although it is indeed a powerful
medication and should not be taken lightly, you should bear in mind that this
medication is also used as a chemotherapy drug, which was its first
application. When used in this way, the doses are vastly larger than when used
to treat either arthritis or psoriasis. Many of the more serious complications
that may come up with mtx are when used in this context, although it still can
have serious side effects which your husband's physician should be monitoring
for.

Mtx should only be used under the close supervision of a physician very
experienced in its use. This generally may not mean a dermatologist (although
this statement may offend some very qualified dermatologists out there).

The reason for this is that this medication can affect the liver or the lungs,
although these side effects are usually quite rare in the lower doses and if
they do show up, the physician can change the dose or take the patient off the
drug for a period of time until the organ recovers. He can also administer
other medications that can serve to protect the liver and avoid serious side
effects.

I have been on mtx for about 6 years now and I am constantly monitored on it
and have been all those 6 years by my extremely experienced rheumatologist. He
does frequent blood tests and mini-exams, and is always informed if I have any
changes in my symptoms that may be related to my mtx therapy. I therefore feel
quite safe taking it, as the alternative for me would be severe and disabling
disease (psoriatic arthritis), which has its own set of severe side effects
that I would not wish to suffer.

Mtx works on the fast-growing cells of the body, which is why it is effective
in controlling flaring of psoriasis (overproduction of skin cells), and why it
has the side effects that it does. It is also why it is effective in treating
some cancers, which obviously are also uncontrolled fast-growing cells or
tumors.

This does NOT mean that psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis are related to cancer;
they are not. It just means that is how mtx works, which is why it may cause
hair thinning, mouth sores, or nausea, although these side effects will usually
be very mild or nonexistent with our tiny doses. I personally have almost no
side effects at all, as I do take daily folic acid supplements, which is
recommended. I suggest your husband ask his physician about this.

Hope this helps! If he really needs the mtx, it is a miracle and helps me to
live a normal life, work fulltime, avoid further permanent joint damage, and
incidentally have almost completely clear skin for the only time in my life
since getting psoriasis at the age of 13.

If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask. I promise to try to
be less verbose next time. :)

Best regards,
LadyAndy2 in Los Angeles, CA (remove "nospam" to reply)

[Gamadon05]

This drug is very dangerous it,
ruin your liver, pancreas, you have to go for a liver biapsyit is painful, i
had this , skin problem for years cope with it
gamadon05 6/25

[Lainie1020]

>This drug is very dangerous it,
>ruin your liver, pancreas, you have to go for a liver biapsyit is painful, i

While these side effects are possible, they are rare. If properly monitored by
a dermatologist or rheumatologist who is trained in the use of immune
suppressants, it can be a very effective and safe treatment.

Regular blood work is necessary to prevent these side effects, and the patient
may not drink alcohol while taking MTX.

Generally, biopsies are not necessary if the blood work is normal.

[emm...@my-deja.com]

In article <20000625155041...@ng-fa1.news.cs.com>,

My dermatologist and rheumatologist both feel that liver biopsies are
necessary periodically since methotrexate can cause damage to the liver
before it ever affects the blood test results. It's really the only way
to tell for sure.

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[MISS TONI CEE]

>If properly monitored by
>a dermatologist or rheumatologist who is trained in the use of immune
>suppressants, it can be a very effective and safe treatment.

Is it true that if you still at an age where you can have children you
shouldn't take MTX?

[steve]

Yes.

Methotrexate is what is known as 'teratogenic' and can cause foetal
deformities. I was warned off procreating from the start of treatment
(in 1985).

Steve.
Steve

[Dave Bentley]

In article <39684ae1...@usenet.f9.net.uk>, steve
<stev...@hotmail.com> writes

But is it not also true that for men at least, 3 months off the drug is
OK if conception is being thought of? I'm 41 have one son aged 2years 3
months. We are both pretty well decided that we don't want any more
children, but realise that may be in a year or so (no longer as time
*is* running out!) we may change our minds. I was going to have a
vasectomy after Christmas, but never got round to it. My P was getting
so bad with so much coverage that my derm and I decided to use MTX. I've
been on it for 14 weeks now. 9 weeks on 10mg weekly with no effect and 5
weeks on 20mg and it's beginning to work. No side effects and bloods all
OK at moment.

Does anyone know where the evidence is of birth deformities whilst the
*male* partner is on MTX? I would have thought it would be more likely
that infertility due to low sperm count would be more of a problem.
Where does this figure of 3 months, which I mentioned above, come from?
--
Dave Bentley