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