effect of methotrexate on crohns disease

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 effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.
• Methotrexate may cause side effects that could be dangerous or life-threatening effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of using methotrexate beforestarting treatment effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. 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 effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop any of these symptoms effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.
• Do not take methotrexate if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Methotrexate is in the FDA pregnancy category X effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. This meansthat it is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Methotrexate canaffect a baby both when a woman is treated and when a man is treated effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. If thewoman is being treated with methotrexate, pregnancy must be avoided during treatmentand for one ovulatory cycle following treatment effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. If the man is being treatedwith methotrexate, pregnancy must be avoided during treatment and for 3 monthsfollowing treatment effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.
• 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 effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Although these medications may be prescribed together to treatcertain conditions, methotrexate may interact with aspirin and NSAIDs, and possiblycause serious side effects effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Discuss the use of aspirin and NSAIDs with yourdoctor effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking methotrexate effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.

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

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 effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.
• 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 effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.
• Do not take methotrexate if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Methotrexate is in the FDA pregnancy category X effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. This meansthat it is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Methotrexate canaffect a baby both when a woman is treated and when a man is treated effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. If thewoman is being treated with methotrexate, pregnancy must be avoided during treatmentand for one ovulatory cycle following treatment effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. If the man is being treatedwith methotrexate, pregnancy must be avoided during treatment and for 3 monthsfollowing treatment effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.
• Methotrexate may be harmful to a nursing infant effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Breast-feeding is notrecommended during treatment with methotrexate effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.

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

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of methotrexate effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.

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

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 effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Although these medications may be prescribed together to treatcertain conditions, methotrexate may interact with aspirin and NSAIDs, and possiblycause serious side effects effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Discuss the use of aspirin and NSAIDs with yourdoctor effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking methotrexate effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Methotrexate may increase the sensitivityof the skin to sunlight effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposureto the sun is unavoidable effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.

What are the possible side effects of methotrexate?
• Methotrexate may cause side effects that could be dangerous or life-threatening effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of using methotrexate beforestarting treatment effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. 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 effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop any of these symptoms effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.
• 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 effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. 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 effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.

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 effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Although these medications may be prescribed together to treatcertain conditions, methotrexate may interact with aspirin and NSAIDs, and possiblycause serious side effects effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.
• 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 effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.
• 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 effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with methotrexate effect of methotrexate on crohns disease. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about methotrexate writtenfor health professionals that you may read effect of methotrexate on crohns disease.

Copyright 2005 D-S LTD.
All Rights Reserved.