• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for rheumatoid arthritis)
• Side effects

  Mild (for Overall) (fatigue, hair loss, upset stomach)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Weekly

Cost: < $25 monthly

Side effects: upset stomach, hair loss, fatigue

• Effectiveness

  Moderate (for rheumatoid arthritis)
• Side effects

  Mild (for Overall) (fatigue, hair loss, upset stomach)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Somewhat hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Weekly

Advice & Tips: Methotrexate works great for me, though I know that's not the case for everyone. I don't have many side-effects, though I admit that the hair loss has been difficult for me emotionally, as my hair used to be very thick and long, and a point of pride for me. The other side-effects I manage by taking MTX right before bed.

Cost: < $25 monthly

Side effects: upset stomach, hair loss, fatigue

• Effectiveness

  Major (for Other)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 25 mg Weekly

Advice & Tips: Be sure to take at least 1 mg of folic acid per day while on Methotrexate. If your hair starts falling out, ask your doctor about a higher dose of folic acid. Mine was increased to 2 mg daily and my hair stopped falling out. Wal-Mart's folic acid is really inexpensive.

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  Major (for psoriasis)
• Side effects

  Severe (for Overall) (nausea)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Somewhat hard to take

Dosage: 15 mg Weekly

Advice & Tips: This medication took me on a roller-coaster ride and I do NOT mean a fun one!! The days either side of taking this medication were horrible - sickness for days afterwards and lethargy unlike anything I've experienced the days prior. This meant, out of seven days, only three were tolerable.

Side effects: nausea