Injectable MTX
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Injectable MTX
| Mon, 06-06-2005 - 10:31pm |
Are any of you able to get any injectable MTX? I had a 9 month supply that is just now running out and I took my new script to the pharmacy and they said it wasn't available at all anymore. I have tried pills in the past but could never get above 10mg without terrible stomach trouble. As it is, I can get to 17.5 mg with the injectable type. Have any of you had any luck getting it from anywhere? Any help would be very much appreciated.
Heidi

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Hi there our little Alaskan buddy!!
With the exception of a couple of weeks, I have been able to patch together a supply of injectable MTX. For awhile, when it was not available locally, I was able to obtain it from Pharmacare, a mail order pharmacy from which my insurance company insists I buy cyclosporin. When Pharmacare ran out, my local pharmacy put me in touch with a compounding pharmacy. My insurance plan wouldn't pay, but my doctor approved it, and it wasn't outrageously expensive. In the meantime, my local pharmacy placed an order for it with their distributor daily and, glory be, it came in two weeks ago. For the couple of times I had to take the oral, the doctor told me to split it into two doses--as long as they weren't more than 12 hours apart. So instead of six of the darned things, I took three in the morning and three mid-afternoon. That really helped--not so much for my tummy to handle all at once.
For most of us, it is irritating and less pleasant to take the oral. However, think of the children with leukemia who depend on it for life-saving treatments. I have heard that even that is in very short supply. My old family doctor's take on it was that it was inexpensive and, therefore, drug companies did not want to fool with it--no money to be made. A bit cynical, and I would like to think he's wrong, but who knows?
Hope you can locate some.
Rosemary
Here is the latest report on the MTX injectable shortage from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists:
Methotrexate Injection
Strength: 25 mg/mL, 1 g powder vials
Comment: Methotrexate injection is in short supply because of manufacturing delays. American Pharmacutical Partners has all products on back order until midsummer 2005. Bedford has all presentations of its 25 mg/mL preservative-free injection available (2-mL, 4-mL, 8-mL, and 10-mL vials.) Customers may obtain drop shipments if wholesalers do not have sufficient stock to meet patient needs. Mayne has 25 mg/mL 2-mL injection with preservative and also 25 mg/mL preservative-free solution in 40 mL vials available for direct purchase by hospitals, pharmacies, and physician's offices (1-866-594-8420). Both products are temporarily being distributed with Canadian labeling. The company is not currently shipping any methotrexate to wholesalers. The 20 mg and 1 g preservative-free lyophilized powder vials are unavailable with no release date. Mayne's US-labeled 25 mg/mL 2-mL vials with preservative (NDC 61703-0350-38) and 25 mg/mL 40-mL preservative-free (NDC 61703-0408-41) solution products are expected to be available in July 2005. (05/24/05, University of Utah, Drug Information Service).
Below is
Molly
Molly
I am unthawing! I have been having lots of trouble lately with my subtalar joints in my ankles and I may have to have fusion surgery if the meds don't help soon. I have had a cortisone shot in each but it didn't help much. I am fighting to stay off oral Prednisone- as it took me a whole year to get off and I had taken it at 10mg or more for five years. My stomach is a mess- had to have an endoscopy in March and they found erosions in my stomach lining and esophagus so I have to be careful about my meds. Ever since they pulled Vioxx, and then Bextra, it has been hard. Vioxx worked very well for me for my pain and my headaches. Now I take time-release morphine (brand name Kadian) continually and I just started taking Mobic when they pulled Bextra so we will see how I tolerate it. There is no way I can go back to oral MTX...we will just have to try something else. When I first tried oral, I threw up for 3 days straight at only 10mg. As it is, I get nauseated from the injections but only for a day or two, and no vomiting- as long as I don't go above 17.5 mgs (.7cc's). Oh well...such is life with RA!
I saw your post about the hip replacement and your doctor is a HOTTY!! LOL I am praying for you that all goes well and you have better function and less pain when this is all over. I am afraid that I am on the slippery slope to joint surgery here in the near future. I am back to using my cane (I use a forearm crutch because I don't have to grip it like a regular cane.) because my ankles just don't bend right and if I turn my ankles a little wrong, I get terrible pain and lose my balance. My rheumy said that once the RA gets into this joint, if we can't get the inflammation down soon, it is easily damaged. So I am trying to be good and protect them. But I may just be SCREWED! LOL- the fusion involves putting in 2 2inch screws per joint!
Nice to hear from you!
Heidi
((((((Heidi))))))
I am praying your rheumy comes up with something that will take the place of MTX.
Hugs,
Vicki
Molly
I take Aciphex 20 mg 2 times daily- which is twice the normal dose. I tried Nexium but it didn't help me as much. I get these pains in my chest that almost feel like my heart but which they determined are esophageal spasms. It is very scary- can't breathe good, hurts to lay down. That is why I had the endo. I have to be careful of my meds and I still take Tums or Maalox every now and then. I will also have to have the endoscopy repeated every so often unless I become non-symptomatic. And I am to go to the ER immediately if I ever have any bleeding.
For the ankles, I have lace-up style braces. I don't always wear them though because sometimes the pressure even lightly laced hurts too much. And if my ankles are huge they don't fit in my shoes. I do like my forearm crutch...I go one with an ergonomic handle so it protects my wrist. And because for the forearm guard it takes some pressure off my elbow. I have 2 of them but only use one at a time...whichever side hurts worse. It took a bit of getting used to- my arm and shoulder were a bit sore but it's a big help when I am walking a lot and when I get up in the am- instead of crawling! LOL And mine are bright blue- very pretty- and match my work uniform...have to be stylish! heehee
Heidi
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