Methotrexate

CAUTION:
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.Inform your doctor if you have ascites (collection of fluid in the abdomen), kidney disease, or lung disease and if you are getting radiation therapy. Inform 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 have any of the following symptoms, call your doctor without delay: dry cough; diarrhea; loss of appetite (anorexia); nausea, stomach pain; weakness; weight loss; extreme tiredness (fatigue); 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 without delay. Methotrexate may harm the fetus.

General Information and Indications:

This medication is used to treat:

o psoriasis
o rheumatoid arthritis
o trophoblastic neoplasms
o leukemias

Information For Users:

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.

This medication should not be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

special precautions:

o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergy to methotrexate or any other medications.
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially those listed in the CAUTION 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.
o in addition to the conditions listed in the CAUTION section, inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding liver disease, ulcers, problems with your immune system, intestinal disease, or cancer.
o 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.
o Inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
o before having surgery, including dental surgery, Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking methotrexate.
o Inform your doctor if you have a history of alcohol abuse. Do not drink alcohol; alcohol increases the chance of liver damage with methotrexate.
o do not have any vaccinations (e.g., measles or flu shots) without informing your doctor.

Possible Adverse Effects:

Side effects from methotrexate are common and include:

o thinned or brittle hair
o blistering skin or acne
o loss of appetite (anorexia) or weight

Inform your doctor if either of these symptoms is severe or lasts for several hours:

o mouth blistering
o fatigue

If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the CAUTION section, call your doctor without delay:

o painful urination or red urine
o black, tarry stools
o unusual bruising or bleeding
o congestion
o fever
o dizziness
o chills
o shortness of breath
o sore throat
o swelling of the feet or ankles
o vomiting
o pain in the joints
o seizures
o severe skin rash

Brand Name(s):

o Rheumatrex® Dose Pack
o Trexall®

Other Name(s):

o Amethopterin
o MTX