And here comes the side effects

[frualeydis]

It is interesting to see that things that I thought were either effects of my arthritis or "normal" unrelated things actually seem to be side effects from methotrexate.

This far:
* Heat flushes alternating with freezing
* Extreme tiredness. This is a side effect of the illness, but when it's much worse the two days after I take the MTX it shows rhat it's the MTX, not the arthritis.
* Lost ability to concentrate and remember things. Again: this is a known effect of chronic pain, but MTX has made it worse.
* Depression. I had never been really clinically depressed before the autumn 1999. It lasted for a couple of months and was horrible: I sat and cried for hours almost every day. And now, after a month of MTX I am feeling more down than I have done ever since then and I want to cry a lot.

I don't count feeling sick - that's an expected and accepted side effect. I just wish it didn't make me unable to work for two days - that makes the rest of my working week so stressful and hard.

My back also hurts worse than it's done for years, but I don't think that is related. I have, however, this far not seen any positive effects of the medication.

I am going to write an e-mail to my doctor now.

Comments

[jehanearbonne.livejournal.com]

Blech. That sounds like major suckage. :(

[frualeydis.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I may need the whisky.

/Eva

[pinque.livejournal.com]

Sadly they are really typical side effects of MTX. I've had to stop taking mine for the tiredeness it causes and the skin injections that wouldn't go away.

Only virtual whiskey! There is some debate as to how much alcohol is ok, but as both can cause liver problems most doctors caution on the side of safety.

So lots and lots of virtual whiskey and what