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What Is Methotrexate?
What Is Methotrexate?
What Is Methotrexate?
Pronunciation
Generic Name: methotrexate (oral) (meth oh TREX ate)
Brand Names: Rheumatrex Dose Pack, Trexall
What is methotrexate?
Methotrexate interferes with the growth of certain cells of the body, especially cells that
reproduce quickly, such as cancer cells, bone marrow cells, and skin cells.
Methotrexate is used to treat certain types of cancer of the breast, skin, head and neck,
or lung. It is also used to treat severe psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Methotrexate is usually given after other medications have been tried without successful
treatment of symptoms.
Methotrexate may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important information
Methotrexate is usually taken once or twice per week and not every day. You must use
the correct dose for your condition. Some people have died after taking methotrexate
every day by accident.
Do not use methotrexate to treat psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis if you have liver
disease (especially if caused by alcoholism), or a blood cell or bone marrow disorder.
blood to clot. You may get an infection or bleed more easily. Call your doctor if you have
kidneys. Tell your doctor if you have upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine,
clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), dry cough, shortness of
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to methotrexate. Do not use
conditions listed above. Your doctor will decide if this treatment is right for you.
To make sure methotrexate is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
kidney disease;
a folate deficiency;
pneumonia or lung disease;
stomach ulcers;
any type of infection; or
if you are receiving radiation treatments.
FDA pregnancy category X. Methotrexate can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do
not use methotrexate to treat psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis if you are pregnant. Tell
are a man or a woman. Methotrexate use by either parent may cause birth defects.
If you are a man, use a condom to keep from causing a pregnancy while you are using
methotrexate. Continue using condoms for at least 90 days after your treatment ends.
If you are a woman, use an effective form of birth control while you are taking
methotrexate, and for at least one cycle of ovulation after your treatment ends.
Do not give this medicine to a child without the advice of a doctor.
Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medication.
How should I take methotrexate?
Take methotrexate exactly as it was prescribed for you. Follow all directions on your
prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer
than recommended.
You must use the correct dose of methotrexate for your condition. Methotrexate is
sometimes taken once or twice per week and not every day. Follow the directions on
your prescription label. Some people have died after taking methotrexate every day by
accident. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your dosage or how
blood to clot. Your blood will need to be tested often, and you may need an occasional
liver biopsy. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
See also: Dosage Information (in more detail)
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An
rubber gloves while cleaning up a patient's body fluids, handling contaminated trash or
laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands before and after removing gloves. Wash
you are being treated for psoriasis. Methotrexate can make your skin more sensitive to
Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to
methotrexate: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using methotrexate and call your doctor at once if you have:
dry cough, shortness of breath;
diarrhea, vomiting, white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
blood in your urine or stools;
swelling, rapid weight gain, little or no urinating;
seizure (convulsions);
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
pale skin, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, weakness, feeling light-headed or
short of breath;
liver problems - nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of
appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
severe skin reaction - fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning
in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially
in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Common methotrexate side effects may include:
vomiting, upset stomach;
headache, dizziness, tired feeling; or
blurred vision.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for
medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-
1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
of greater than or equal to 1 week between courses, until any manifesting toxic
symptoms subside.
urinary chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which generally will return to normal or less than
50 intl units/24 hours usually after the third or fourth course and usually followed by a
of greater than or equal to 1 week between courses, until any manifesting toxic
symptoms subside.
Effectiveness of therapy is ordinarily evaluated by 24 hour quantitative analysis of
urinary chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which generally will return to normal or less than
50 intl units/24 hours usually after the third or fourth course and usually followed by a
Malignant lymphoma in Stage III: 0.625 to 2.5 mg/kg orally daily as a part of
combination chemotherapy.
Treatment in all stages usually consists of several courses of the drug interposed with 7
normal. At this point, one additional dose is advisable. Administration at intervals of less
concentration of 1000 micromolar at the end of the infusion, the dose may be increased
to 15 g/m2.
Treatments may occur at 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 15, 16, 29, 30, 44, and 45 weeks after
surgery.
If the patient is vomiting or unable to tolerate oral medication, leucovorin should be
added to this regimen at the same dose and schedule as the methotrexate.
Usual Adult Dose for Psoriasis:
Single Dose: 10 to 25 mg/week orally, IM, or IV until adequate response is achieved.
Divided Dose: 2.5 mg orally, IM, or IV every 12 hours for 3 doses once a week.
Divided dose: 2.5 mg orally every 12 hours for 3 doses once a week.
rescue
Usual Pediatric Dose for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia:
100 mg/m2 over 1 hour followed by a 35 hour infusion delivering 900 mg/m2/day.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Dermatomyositis:
15 to 20 mg/m2 orally once weekly.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Meningeal Leukemia:
less than 4 months: 3 mg/dose intrathecally.
The dose may be administered every 2 to 5 days until CSF counts return to normal
followed by a dose administered once weekly for 2 weeks and monthly thereafter.
Administration at intervals of less than 1 week may result in increased subacute toxicity.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Neoplastic Diseases:
7.5 to 30 mg/m2 IM or orally every 2 weeks.
hours.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Rheumatoid Arthritis:
5 to 15 mg/m2 IM or orally once weekly.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Solid Tumors:
less than 12 years: 12000 mg/m2 IV.
Many drugs can interact with methotrexate. Not all possible interactions are listed here.
Tell your doctor about all your medications and any you start or stop using during
Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.
In Summary
Commonly reported side effects of methotrexate include: increased liver enzymes.
methotrexate. In the event that any of these side effects do occur, they may require
medical attention.
You should check with your doctor immediately if any of these side effects occur
More common:
Some of the side effects that can occur with methotrexate may not need medical
attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may
go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to
reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects
continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your
More common: