Medication information sheet for methotrexate

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center
Medication Information Sheet for Methotrexate
Brand Names: Rheumatrex, Immunex, Folex PFS
Generic Name: Methotrexate (meth oh trex' ate), Amethopterin, MTX
Drug Class: Antimetabolite; Folic acid antagonist; (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug, i.e.,
DMARD)
What does this medication do?
Used for the treatment of Crohn’s disease by partially inhibiting (suppressing) the activity of the
immune system. This medication works by decreasing inflammation, which is an underlying
problem in Crohn’s disease.
Possible Side Effects:
You will need blood work to check your liver function regularly as methotrexate may affect the
liver. Your doctor will discuss lab work intervals. Do not drink alcohol while taking
methotrexate. You will be a given a lower dose than that used to treat patients with cancer so the
chances of severe side effects are not as great. Methotrexate also causes depletion of the vitamin,
folic acid (folate). Your doctor will prescribe folic acid replacement to prevent this from
occurring.
Please call your doctor to discuss these milder side effects:
• Hair loss • Mild nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or loss of appetite Call you doctor immediately if you have any of these side effects:
• Fever, chills, sore throat or other signs of infection • Dry cough • Mouth sores or sores or blisters on the lips • Abdominal pain • Uncontrollable nausea and vomiting • Yellow eyes or skin or pale (clay) colored stools or dark (tea) colored urine • Allergic reaction (itching or hives, swelling in face or hands, swelling or tingling in the mouth or throat, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing) • Blood in the urine, decreased amounts of urine (less than one cup per day) • Worsening rectal bleeding or black, tarry stools • Seizures
Warnings:
• This medicine can cause birth defects if it is used by the mother while she is pregnant or by the father when his sexual partner becomes pregnant. If a pregnancy occurs while you are using this medicine, tell your doctor right away. Use two forms of birth control to avoid pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 3 months after your treatment ends. This is very important whether you are a man or a woman. Methotraxate will harm the fetus. • Make sure your doctor knows if you have kidney or liver disease, HIV or AIDS, any infections, stomach ulcers, or if you drink alcohol regularly. • This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds. • You may get infections more easily while taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. • Talk to your doctor before getting immunized with live virus vaccines (flu shot,
Dosage and Administration:
You will inject this medication subcutaneously (SQ) or intramuscularly (IM) once a week:
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• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember • Please notify us if you take any of these medications: ¾ Sulfa drugs (Bactrim, Septra) ¾ Tetracycline (AchromycinV, Sumycin) ¾ Azathioprine (Imuran) ¾ Isotretoin (Accutaine) or tretinoin (Vesanoid) ¾ Anticonvulsants (Phenobarbitol, Phenytoin, Carbamazepine) ¾ Oral hypoglycemics (Glucophage, Avandia, Glucotrol, DiaBeta) ¾ Probenecid (Benemid) ¾ Theophylline (Theo24, Uniphyl) Adapted with permission from Beth-Ann Norton, MS,RS,CS, at the Massachusetts General Hospital Crohn’s & Colitis Center

Source: http://patients.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/documents/Info_sheet_Methotrexate.pdf