Methotrexate

How should you use this medication?
Take this medication by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Take this medication with food. If you are taking this medication once a day, take it in the morning. Do not take it more often than directed. Do not suddenly stop taking your medication because you may develop a severe reaction. Your care team will tell you how much medication to take. If your care team wants you to stop the medication, the dose may be slowly lowered over time to avoid any side effects. Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. Special care may be needed.

What are the possible side effects of this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

Allergic reactions-skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Cushing syndrome-increased fat around the midsection, upper back, neck, or face, pink or purple stretch marks on the skin, thinning, fragile skin that easily bruises, unexpected hair growth
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)-increased thirst or amount of urine, unusual weakness or fatigue, blurry vision
Increase in blood pressure
Infection-fever, chills, cough, sore throat, wounds that don’t heal, pain or trouble when passing urine, general feeling of discomfort or being unwell
Low adrenal gland function-nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness
Mood and behavior changes-anxiety, nervousness, confusion, hallucinations, irritability, hostility, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, worsening mood, feelings of depression
Stomach bleeding-bloody or black, tar-like stools, vomiting blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds
Swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Acne
General discomfort and fatigue
Headache
Increase in appetite
Nausea
Trouble sleeping
Weight gain

Show all possible side effects

What may interact with this medicine?
Our pharmacists will check to see if this medication will cause any interactions with the information in your profile.
Do not take this medication with any of the following:

Alefacept
Echinacea
Live virus vaccines
Metyrapone
Mifepristone This medication may also interact with the following:
Amphotericin B
Aspirin and aspirin-like medications
Certain antibiotics like erythromycin, clarithromycin, troleandomycin
Certain medications for diabetes
Certain medications for fungal infections like ketoconazole
Certain medications for seizures like carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin
Certain medications that treat or prevent blood clots like warfarin
Cholestyramine
Cyclosporine
Digoxin
Diuretics
Female hormones, like estrogens and birth control pills
Isoniazid
NSAIDs, medications for pain inflammation, like ibuprofen or naproxen
Other medications for myasthenia gravis
Rifampin
Vaccines