Methotrexate
Complete list of drugs used to
treat arthritis.
Methotrexate is used to treat:
- psoriasis
- rheumatoid arthritis
- trophoblastic neoplasms
- leukemias
Methotrexate is in a class of drugs known as antimetabolites; it slows
the growth of certain cells in your body. Methotrexate helps control your symptoms but may
not cure your disease.
Other uses for Methotrexate
This medication should not be prescribed for other uses; ask your
doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Before taking methotrexate,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to methotrexate or any other drugs.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you
are taking, especially those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, azathioprine
(Imuran), oral acne medications such as isotretinoin (Accutane) and tretinoin (Vesanoid),
oral diabetes medications, phenytoin (Dilantin), probenecid (Benemid), sulfa drugs
(Bactrim, Septra), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), tetracycline (Achromycin V, Sumycin), and
vitamins.
- in addition to the conditions listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, tell your doctor
if you have or have ever had liver disease, ulcers, problems with your immune system,
intestinal disease, or cancer.
- you should know that methotrexate may interfere with the normal menstrual cycle (period)
in women and may stop sperm production in men. However, you should not assume that you
cannot get pregnant or that you cannot get someone else pregnant. You should not plan to
have children while receiving chemotherapy or for a while after treatments. (Talk to your
doctor for further details.) Use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy.
- tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
- before having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are
taking methotrexate.
- tell your doctor if you have a history of alcohol abuse. Do not drink alcohol; alcohol
increases the chance of liver damage with methotrexate.
- do not have any vaccinations (e.g., measles or flu shots) without talking to your
doctor.
Side effects of Methotrexate
Side effects from methotrexate are common and include:
- thinned or brittle hair
- blistering skin or acne
- loss of appetite or weight
Tell your doctor if either of these symptoms is severe or lasts for
several hours:
If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the
IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:
- painful urination or red urine
- black, tarry stools
- unusual bruising or bleeding
- congestion
- fever
- dizziness
- chills
- shortness of breath
- sore throat
- swelling of the feet or ankles
- vomiting
- pain in the joints
- seizures
- severe skin rash
Special warning about Methotrexate
Methotrexate can cause a decrease in the number of blood cells in your bone marrow.
Methotrexate also can cause cancerous lymphomas, tumor lysis syndrome (electrolyte
imbalances), severe skin reactions, infections such as pneumonia, bone and soft tissue
damage, and severe damage to your liver, kidneys, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract (some
of which can be fatal). Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your
doctor will order lab tests before, during, and after your treatment to see if you are
affected by this drug. Tell your doctor if you have ascites (collection of fluid in the
abdomen), kidney disease, or lung disease and if you are getting radiation therapy. Tell
your doctor if you are taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, or Nuprin), indomethacin
(Indocin), ketoprofen (Actron, Orudis), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn), or other
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).If you experience any of the following
symptoms, call your doctor immediately: dry cough; diarrhea; loss of appetite; nausea,
stomach pain; weakness; weight loss; excessive tiredness; lack of energy; yellowness of
the skin or eyes; enlargement of the lymph nodes; blisters on the cheek, tongue and lips;
or skin rash. Because of the dangers of taking methotrexate, this drug should be used to
treat only life-threatening cancer or severe psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis that does
not respond to other treatments. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking
methotrexate.If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, especially if you have
psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis, talk you your doctor about the risks of taking
methotrexate for your condition. If you become pregnant, call your doctor immediately.
Methotrexate may harm the fetus. |
