drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate

What is the most important information I should know about methotrexate?
• Methotrexate should only be administered under the supervision of a qualifiedhealthcare provider experienced in the use of this medication drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Methotrexate may cause side effects that could be dangerous or life-threatening drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of using methotrexate beforestarting treatment drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Methotrexate has been reported to cause blood and bone marrowproblems (fever, chills, sore throat, unusual bruising or bleeding, black, bloodyor tarry stools,); lung problems (unexplained shortness of breath, coughing,or wheezing); stomach problems (diarrhea, abdominal pain, sores in or aroundthe mouth); liver problems (yellow skin or eyes, unusual fatigue); kidney problems(blood in the urine; darkened urine, swelling of the feet or legs); and others drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop any of these symptoms drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Do not take methotrexate if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Methotrexate is in the FDA pregnancy category X drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. This meansthat it is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Methotrexate canaffect a baby both when a woman is treated and when a man is treated drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. If thewoman is being treated with methotrexate, pregnancy must be avoided during treatmentand for one ovulatory cycle following treatment drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. If the man is being treatedwith methotrexate, pregnancy must be avoided during treatment and for 3 monthsfollowing treatment drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Do not take aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, others), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis,Oruvail), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox), and others except under the directionof your doctor drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Although these medications may be prescribed together to treatcertain conditions, methotrexate may interact with aspirin and NSAIDs, and possiblycause serious side effects drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Discuss the use of aspirin and NSAIDs with yourdoctor drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking methotrexate drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.

What is methotrexate?
• Methotrexate interferes with the production and maintenance of DNA, whichis the genetic material in the cells of the body drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Methotrexate has a greatereffect on cells that reproduce often such as cancer cells, bone marrow cells,skin cells, and others drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. This is how methotrexate works in the treatment of cancerand psoriasis drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. It is not known exactly how methotrexate works in the treatmentof rheumatoid arthritis drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Methotrexate is used to treat certain types of cancer, psoriasis, andrheumatoid arthritis drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Methotrexate may also be used for purposes other than those listed inthis medication guide drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking methotrexate?
• Before taking methotrexate, tell your doctor if you have
· liver disease or a history of liver problems;
· kidney disease;
· alcoholism or alcoholic liver disease;
· an immune system disorder;
· blood or bone marrow problems;
· an infection;
· a stomach ulcer;
· ulcerative colitis;
· diabetes;
· fluid around the lungs or in the abdomen; or
· asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis,or any other lung disease drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• You may not be able to take methotrexate, or you may require a dosageadjustment or special monitoring during therapy if you have any of the conditionslisted above drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Do not take methotrexate if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Methotrexate is in the FDA pregnancy category X drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. This meansthat it is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Methotrexate canaffect a baby both when a woman is treated and when a man is treated drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. If thewoman is being treated with methotrexate, pregnancy must be avoided during treatmentand for one ovulatory cycle following treatment drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. If the man is being treatedwith methotrexate, pregnancy must be avoided during treatment and for 3 monthsfollowing treatment drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Methotrexate may be harmful to a nursing infant drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Breast-feeding is notrecommended during treatment with methotrexate drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.

How should I take methotrexate?
• Methotrexate should only be administered under the supervision of a qualifiedhealthcare provider experienced in the use of this medication drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Take oral methotrexate exactly as directed by your doctor drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. If you donot understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor toexplain them to you drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Take each oral dose with a full glass of water drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Methotrexate is also available as an injection drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. If you are using injectablemethotrexate at home, your doctor will give you detailed instructions regardingpreparation, administration, and storage of the medication drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Do not take more of this medication than is prescribed drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Too much methotrexatecan be dangerous, possibly resulting in death drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Methotrexate is used to treatdifferent medical conditions, each with a different dosing regimen drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Follow yourdoctor's instructions drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• It is important to take methotrexate regularly to get the most benefit drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluationsduring treatment with methotrexate to monitor progress and side effects drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Store methotrexate at room temperature away from moisture and heat drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of methotrexate drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Symptoms of a methotrexate overdose may include nausea, vomiting, bleedingin the stomach, sores in the mouth, blood and bone marrow problems, and possiblydeath drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.

What should I avoid while taking methotrexate?
• Do not take aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, others), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis,Oruvail), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox), and others except under the directionof your doctor drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Although these medications may be prescribed together to treatcertain conditions, methotrexate may interact with aspirin and NSAIDs, and possiblycause serious side effects drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Discuss the use of aspirin and NSAIDs with yourdoctor drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking methotrexate drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Methotrexate may increase the sensitivityof the skin to sunlight drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposureto the sun is unavoidable drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.

What are the possible side effects of methotrexate?
• Methotrexate may cause side effects that could be dangerous or life-threatening drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of using methotrexate beforestarting treatment drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Methotrexate has been reported to cause blood and bone marrowproblems (fever, chills, sore throat, unusual bruising or bleeding, black, bloodyor tarry stools,); lung problems (unexplained shortness of breath, coughing,or wheezing); stomach problems (diarrhea, abdominal pain); sores in or aroundthe mouth; liver problems (yellow skin or eyes, unusual fatigue); kidney problems(blood in the urine; darkened urine, swelling of the feet or legs); and others drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop any of these symptoms drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, seek emergencymedical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
· an allergic reaction (shortness of breath; closing of the throat; difficultybreathing; swelling of the lips, face, or tongue; or hives);
· joint pain; or
· confusion, unusual behavior, or seizures drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Continueto take methotrexate and notify your doctor if you experience
· nausea, vomiting, or decreased appetite;
· itching or a skin rash;
· hair loss;
· boils or acne;
· dizziness;
· increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight;
· headache;
· drowsiness; or
· blurred vision drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.

What other drugs will affect methotrexate?
• Do not take aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, others), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis,Oruvail), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox), and others except under the directionof your doctor drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Although these medications may be prescribed together to treatcertain conditions, methotrexate may interact with aspirin and NSAIDs, and possiblycause serious side effects drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Before taking methotrexate, tell your doctor if you are taking any ofthe following medicines:
· etretinate (Tegison);
· acitretin (Soriatane);
· theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair, Theochron, Elixophyllin, Slo-Phyllin,others);
· phenytoin (Dilantin);
· probenecid (Benemid);
· procarbazine (Matulane);
· folic acid or a vitamin supplement that contains folic acid;
· a penicillin antibiotic such as ampicillin (Principen, others), amoxicillin(Amoxil, Trimox, Augmentin, others), dicloxacillin (Dynapen, others), penicillin(Pen-Vee-K, Veetids, others), and others;
· a tetracycline antibiotic such as minocycline (Minocin, Dynacin, others),doxycycline (Vibramycin, Vibra-Tabs, others), tetracycline (Sumycin, others),and others; or
· a sulfa-based medicine such as sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, Sulfatrim,Gantanol), sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin), and others drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• You may not be able to take methotrexate, or you may require a dosageadjustment or special monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listedabove drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with methotrexate drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about methotrexate writtenfor health professionals that you may read drug nutrient interactions of methotrexate.

Copyright 2005 D-S LTD.
All Rights Reserved.