Methotrexate Injections???

[FLAngie]

I have had RA for about 3 years now. I have been on methotrexate 20 mg. for a while, but it is no longer working that well. My Dr. is switching me to the injectable form. I go in tomorrow to get my first injection and to learn how to give myself the injections at home. I have to admit I am a little scared of it. I hate injections of any kind, let alone give them to myself. DH is coming to learn how to do it just in case I can't. Does anyone else here give themselves the injection? How bad is it? Where do you have to inject yourself. I have been looking online for other info, but have not been finding much- other than the standard side effects, uses, etc.

 

[lisah0711]

, Angie. I don't know anything about methotrexate injections -- it sounds a little scary! I take 15 mg. a week for psoriasis but that is oral. For what it is worth, I had to give my cat insulin injections several years ago and it was a piece of cake -- you are probably a lot more cooperative that my tom cat! Sending good thoughts your way -- maybe red licorice helps . . . Seriously, RA, like psoriasis is an autoimmune disease so any of the things that help with inflammation might help you, i.e. cinnamon, tumeric, etc. Good luck and I am sending good thoughts your way.

 

[FLAngie]

, Angie. I don't know anything about methotrexate injections -- it sounds a little scary! I take 15 mg. a week for psoriasis but that is oral. For what it is worth, I had to give my cat insulin injections several years ago and it was a piece of cake -- you are probably a lot more cooperative that my tom cat! Sending good thoughts your way -- maybe red licorice helps . . . Seriously, RA, like psoriasis is an autoimmune disease so any of the things that help with inflammation might help you, i.e. cinnamon, tumeric, etc. Good luck and I am sending good thoughts your way.

I may have to try the red licorice for this! It does cure all problems doesn't it?! The funny thing about the injections is that I have probably injected 100's of animals/birds (was a vet tech and ostrich hatchery manager). The thought of giving myself a shot really creeps me out. Even when I was getting allergy shots I had to sit down and look away I guess I will find out tomorrow. Do you think that they will look at me funny if I bring in 4 lbs (okay 3 lbs.) of licorice?

Thanks for the good thoughts.

 

[lisah0711]

I may have to try the red licorice for this! It does cure all problems doesn't it?! The funny thing about the injections is that I have probably injected 100's of animals/birds (was a vet tech and ostrich hatchery manager). The thought of giving myself a shot really creeps me out. Even when I was getting allergy shots I had to sit down and look away I guess I will find out tomorrow. Do you think that they will look at me funny if I bring in 4 lbs (okay 3 lbs.) of licorice?

Thanks for the good thoughts.

Well, it can't hurt to bring in red licorice, especially if you are willing to share! Maybe you have to pretend you are a bird when you give yourself the shot? Seriously, I hope all goes well for you today. I will be sending good thoughts your way!

 

[frdeb1999]

I give myself injections and in the begining it was no easy thing for me! You just have to get used to it....I know much easier said then done. The 1st few times will be scary, but I would much rather give myself them then have my DH....I love him to pieces....but it just makes me nervous knowing he is by my reactions!!

 

[FLAngie]

Well, it didn't go too bad today... but the nurse did the injection to show me how it is done. She gave me the choice of in my leg or in my stomach. Not a hard choice there, it went into my leg. She said that most people come in for several weeks until they have it down really well, but I won't be able to do that. So next week it is all me. It should be interesting to see how it goes.

There is no way that I would let DH do it for me, he would have too much fun

frdeb1999- do you do methotrexate injections? If so, did they work better than the oral meds?

 

[cman]

FLAngie

My 18 year old DD has been struggling with Juvenile RA since she was 3 years old. Almost all joints are affected. There have been a lot of peaks and valleys during over the 15 years - mostly valleys

She was on methotrexate (pill form) for many years and then the doctors put her on Embrel and then Humira about 5 years ago.

Can you tell me how the injectable form of methotrexate is? Does it hurt after the shot is given? DD hates the burn she gets from Humira and Embrel. My wife gives her the injections so we can monitor it now but in 7 weeks she heads off to college and we are afraid she won't stick with the treatment because of the pain - it really hurts.

Just a word of caution about taking the shots in the leg. You'll need to rotate the shot from leg to stomach so you won't build up scare tissue (which makes the shot much harder). My DD always wants the arm but we give some in the stomach.

Good luck!!!

 

[frdeb1999]

No I am on Humira right now. I have taken the oral form of methotrexate but it does very little for me. They have never offered me it in any other form then pill. I would love to know if it works better for you then the pill form though. It worked well for me for quite some time and gave me some of my better relief.

 

[Mrs. M. Mouse]

I personally haven't had the methotrexate injections but I have given many as I am a nurse at a family clinic here. We have had alot of success with the methotrexate injectable compared to the oral. Most of the client's I have that are on this swear by it. Yes they will say that the injections were awful at first but the effect and result it had was worth it for them.

I wish you the best of luck with the methotrexate injectable treatment. My advise to you would be to rotate spots from stomach, leg, arm on a regular basis never injecting the same spot 2 weeks in a row to help in not building horrible scar tissues.

Take care.

 

[brytorlyn]

I don't know about this medication but when I was pregnant with my 3rd child I had gestational diabetes and I needed to give myself injections of insulin twice a day....in my tummy At first I was terrified and like yourself I was no stranger to giving needles since I had been a lab technologist for ten years and had taken blood from patients hundreds of times. It turned out to be alot easier than I expected and I did it for 7 months twice a day. I am sure you can do it!

 

[FLAngie]

Thanks for all the replies everyone!

cman- Yes, the injection started to burn a little a few minutes after, but it was not bad and only lasted about 5 minutes. I do have a bruise from it about 2 inches in diameter, but that was the only real side effect.

Mrs. M. Mouse & cman- Thanks for the advice about the scar tissue. They didn't mention that to me, only to switch legs every week.

brytorlyn- thanks for the encouragement. I know that before long I probably won't even have to think about it- it is just getting to that point.

My Dr. is very optimistic that this will work better for me so I am very hopeful.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Injectible Methotrexate is much better than the pill form and much more effective, my doc almost always used the injectible if possible and tried to steer away from the pills. I used to work for a Rheumatologist and taught many of our patients how to give these to themselves. One trick was to apply ice to the area for a minute or two prior to giving yourself the injection. I didn't have to do that wiht many pts, but some were just really scared and this seemed to ease the anxiety.

c-man, if your daughter has reached the point of taking Enbrel and Humira, then she is past the point of needing Methotrexate. My doc used those as a last resort after all other med attempts had failed.

Good Luck, it won't be long before it is second nature for you.

Suzanne