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