Methotrexate also named Amethopterin specifically is a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). It helps in order to reduce the activity of the body’s defense mechanism (immune system), which may be overactive in certain conditions. Methotrexate modifies the underlying disease process to limit or prevent joint damage and disability, instead of simply treating the symptoms.
It’s a long-term treatment, so it may be 3 to 12 weeks before you start to observe the benefits.
Methotrexate can be used for the treatment of patients with:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Vasculitis
Dosage and Administration: Methotrexate is usually administered in the form of a tablet once a week on the same day. Methotrexate tablet is swallowed whole without crushing or chewing. Tablets come in a couple of strengths, 2.5mg, and 10mg. In order to avoid confusion it’s best that only the 2.5mg tablet is used. The 2 strengths are completely different in sizes but are identical in colour, so you must always check the methotrexate dose is correct.
During initial stages of the condition it’s often got treated quite aggressively and thus the starting recommended dose may range from 7.5mg to 15mg/week. Dose can be increased in it isn’t useful for your symptoms, but it won’t usually higher than the 25mg weekly.
Alternatively, the medication methotrexate is administered once a week by injection, usually subcutaneous, in case there are side effects due to tablets. A subcutaneous methotrexate injection is administered into the layer of fat between the skin and muscle, instead of intravenously which means directly into a vein.
Possible side-effects: As with other existing drugs, methotrexate may sometimes also be responsible for causing side effects. The commonly reported methotrexate side effects may include:
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Dyspepsia
Mouth sores
Rash
Nasopharyngitis
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Headache
Bronchitis
Thrombocytopenia
Alopecia
Leucopenia
Pancytopenia
Dizziness
Photosensitivity
Burning of skin lesions
Possible risk:
The methotrexate uses can affect the blood (causing fewer blood cells to be made) and your liver. Therefore blood tests should be performed prior to starting therapy.
Treatment with methotrexate injection can be responsible for affecting the lungs so you’ll have a chest X-ray prior to starting it.
Because methotrexate could be responsible for affecting the immune system, it may make you more likely to develop infections.
In rare cases, methotrexate 25 mg may be responsible for causing lung inflammation with breathlessness. In case this happens to you, see your healthcare provider.
Warning & Precautions:
In case vomiting/diarrhea/stomatitis occur, which may result in the dehydration, amethopterin should be stopped until the recovery occurs.
Methotrexate and immunization with live virus vaccines should be avoided.
Males are apprised of reproductive potential to use apt contraception during methotrexate and for minimum three months following the final dose.
Methotrexate is recommended to be used with extra caution in the existence of debility.
Patients with methotrexate therapy must be closely monitored so that the toxic effects are onserved promptly.
Treatment Duration: Methotrexate treatment can be continued as long as it is working and as long as you don't get any serious side effects.
In case you interrupt methotrexate treatment for over a few weeks, then there is a risk that your disease may worsen. Continue with your treatment unless instructed by your healthcare provider or unless the adverse reactions develop.
Contraindications:
The use of methotrexate 25 mg can cause embryo-fetal toxicity and fetal death when administered by pregnant women.
This therapy shouldn't be used in patients with alcoholism, alcoholic liver disease or other chronic liver diseases.
Methotrexate is not recommended for patients who have overt or laboratory evidence of immunodeficiency syndromes.
Avoid using methotrexate in patients with preexisting blood dyscrasias, such as leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or significant anemia.
Adverse reactions, for instance fatigue and dizziness may be responsible for affecting the ability in order to drive or operate machinery.
The amethopterin administered concomitantly with radiotherapy may be responsible for increasing the risk of osteonecrosis and soft tissue necrosis.
Drug Interaction: Concomitant use of Aspirin, NSAIDs, and steroids may elevate as well as prolong the serum methotrexate levels and cause increased toxicity.
Concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors may elevate as well as prolong the serum
methotrexate levels and cause increased toxicity.
Storage: Methotrexate should be stored at controlled room temperature, 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F). Protect from the light.
Cost of Methotrexate: The methotrexate cost may vary depending on the wholesaler or pharmacy you visit. The methotrexate injection price for 25 mg/mL is around 2,664 INR for a supply of 10 milliliters.
NOTE: The piece of information provided in this article about "Methotrexate: All You Need to Know About" is just for informational purposes and is not served as a substitute for the medical treatment, consultation, diagnosis, of a qualified healthcare practitioner.