how methotrexate works
(meth oh TREX ate)
Dose Pack, Trexall
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 how methotrexate works.
• Methotrexate may cause side effects that could be dangerous or life-threatening how methotrexate works. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of using methotrexate beforestarting treatment how methotrexate works. 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 how methotrexate works. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop any of these symptoms how methotrexate works.
• Do not take methotrexate if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment how methotrexate works. Methotrexate is in the FDA pregnancy category X how methotrexate works. This meansthat it is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby how methotrexate works. Methotrexate canaffect a baby both when a woman is treated and when a man is treated how methotrexate works. If thewoman is being treated with methotrexate, pregnancy must be avoided during treatmentand for one ovulatory cycle following treatment how methotrexate works. If the man is being treatedwith methotrexate, pregnancy must be avoided during treatment and for 3 monthsfollowing treatment how methotrexate works.
• 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 how methotrexate works. Although these medications may be prescribed together to treatcertain conditions, methotrexate may interact with aspirin and NSAIDs, and possiblycause serious side effects how methotrexate works. Discuss the use of aspirin and NSAIDs with yourdoctor how methotrexate works.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking methotrexate how methotrexate works.
What is methotrexate?
• Methotrexate interferes with the production and maintenance of DNA, whichis the genetic material in the cells of the body how methotrexate works. Methotrexate has a greatereffect on cells that reproduce often such as cancer cells, bone marrow cells,skin cells, and others how methotrexate works. This is how methotrexate works in the treatment of cancerand psoriasis how methotrexate works. It is not known exactly how methotrexate works in the treatmentof rheumatoid arthritis how methotrexate works.
• Methotrexate is used to treat certain types of cancer, psoriasis, andrheumatoid arthritis how methotrexate works.
• Methotrexate may also be used for purposes other than those listed inthis medication guide how methotrexate works.
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 how methotrexate works.
• 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 how methotrexate works.
• Do not take methotrexate if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment how methotrexate works. Methotrexate is in the FDA pregnancy category X how methotrexate works. This meansthat it is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby how methotrexate works. Methotrexate canaffect a baby both when a woman is treated and when a man is treated how methotrexate works. If thewoman is being treated with methotrexate, pregnancy must be avoided during treatmentand for one ovulatory cycle following treatment how methotrexate works. If the man is being treatedwith methotrexate, pregnancy must be avoided during treatment and for 3 monthsfollowing treatment how methotrexate works.
• Methotrexate may be harmful to a nursing infant how methotrexate works. Breast-feeding is notrecommended during treatment with methotrexate how methotrexate works.
How should I take methotrexate?
• Methotrexate should only be administered under the supervision of a qualifiedhealthcare provider experienced in the use of this medication how methotrexate works.
• Take oral methotrexate exactly as directed by your doctor how methotrexate works. If you donot understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor toexplain them to you how methotrexate works.
• Take each oral dose with a full glass of water how methotrexate works.
• Methotrexate is also available as an injection how methotrexate works. If you are using injectablemethotrexate at home, your doctor will give you detailed instructions regardingpreparation, administration, and storage of the medication how methotrexate works.
• Do not take more of this medication than is prescribed how methotrexate works. Too much methotrexatecan be dangerous, possibly resulting in death how methotrexate works. Methotrexate is used to treatdifferent medical conditions, each with a different dosing regimen how methotrexate works. Follow yourdoctor's instructions how methotrexate works.
• It is important to take methotrexate regularly to get the most benefit how methotrexate works.
• Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluationsduring treatment with methotrexate to monitor progress and side effects how methotrexate works.
• Store methotrexate at room temperature away from moisture and heat how methotrexate works.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of methotrexate how methotrexate works.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected how methotrexate works.
• Symptoms of a methotrexate overdose may include nausea, vomiting, bleedingin the stomach, sores in the mouth, blood and bone marrow problems, and possiblydeath how methotrexate works.
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 how methotrexate works. Although these medications may be prescribed together to treatcertain conditions, methotrexate may interact with aspirin and NSAIDs, and possiblycause serious side effects how methotrexate works. Discuss the use of aspirin and NSAIDs with yourdoctor how methotrexate works.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking methotrexate how methotrexate works.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight how methotrexate works. Methotrexate may increase the sensitivityof the skin to sunlight how methotrexate works. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposureto the sun is unavoidable how methotrexate works.
What are the possible side effects of methotrexate?
• Methotrexate may cause side effects that could be dangerous or life-threatening how methotrexate works. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of using methotrexate beforestarting treatment how methotrexate works. 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 how methotrexate works. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop any of these symptoms how methotrexate works.
• 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 how methotrexate works.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur how methotrexate works. 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 how methotrexate works.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur how methotrexate works. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome how methotrexate works.
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 how methotrexate works. Although these medications may be prescribed together to treatcertain conditions, methotrexate may interact with aspirin and NSAIDs, and possiblycause serious side effects how methotrexate works.
• 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 how methotrexate works.
• 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 how methotrexate works.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with methotrexate how methotrexate works. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products how methotrexate works.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about methotrexate writtenfor health professionals that you may read how methotrexate works.
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