Methotrexate For Cancer (Systemic)

Brand Names : amethopterin

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For methotrexate, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to methotrexate.

Pregnancy - Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you intend to have children. There is a good chance that this medicine may cause birth defects if either the male or female is taking it at the time of conception or if it is taken during pregnancy. Methotrexate may cause harm or even death of the fetus. In addition, many cancer medicines may cause sterility, which could be permanent. Although sterility is probably rare with this medicine, the possibility should be kept in mind.

Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before taking this medicine. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are taking methotrexate. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while taking methotrexate.

Breast-feeding - Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or if you intend to breast-feed during treatment with this medicine. Because methotrexate may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are taking it.

Children - Newborns and other infants may be more sensitive to the effects of methotrexate. However, in other children it is not expected to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults - Side effects may be more likely to occur in the elderly, who are usually more sensitive to the effects of methotrexate.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking methotrexate, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine. They should also be told if you have ever been treated with x-rays or cancer medicines or if you drink alcohol.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of methotrexate. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Alcohol abuse (or history of) - Increased risk of unwanted effects on the liver

• Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
• Herpes zoster (shingles) - Risk of severe disease affecting other parts of the body

• Colitis

• Disease of the immune system

• Gout (history of) or
• Kidney stones (or history of) - Methotrexate may increase levels of a chemical called uric acid in the body, which can cause gout or kidney stones

• Infection - Methotrexate can reduce immunity to infection

• Intestine blockage or
• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease - Effects may be increased because of slower removal of methotrexate from the body

• Mouth sores or inflammation or
• Stomach ulcer - May be worsened