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Brand names - Folex, Folex PFS, Mexate, Mexate-AQ, Rheumatrex,
Matrex.
Medication type - Immunosuppressant (cyctotoxic)
Common side effects - Loss of appetite,
nausea and vomiting, minor mouth ulcers.
Rare side effects - Acne, boils, pale
skin, skin rash, or itching.
Serious side effects - Black, tarry
stools, bloody vomit, diarrhea, flushing or redness of skin, sores
in mouth and on lips, stomach pain, blood in urine or stools, confusion,
seizures, cough or hoarseness, fever or chills, pain in lower back
or side, painful or difficult urination, red spots on skin, shortness
of breath, swollen feet or lower legs, unusual bleeding or bruising,
back pain, dark urine, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, joint pain,
unusual fatigue, yellow-tinged eyes or skin. Call your doctor immediately.
Dosage - For SLE or rheumatoid arthritis
Tablets: 2.5 to 5 mg every 12 hours for 3 doses in 1 week; or 10
mg once a week.
Uses - Used to treat SLE & rheumatoid
arthritis.
Other notes - Best taken 1 to 2 hours
before meals. Avoid alcohol. Methotrexate can cause birth defects
and other problems; avoid during pregnancy. Methotrexate passes
into breast milk and may cause serious side effects in the nursing
infant; it should not be used during breast feeding. Methotrexate
may lower your resistance to infection by reducing the number of
white blood cells in the blood. Do not have any immunizations without
your doctors approval. Avoid people with infections. Use care when
shaving, trimming nails, or using sharp objects. Inform your doctor
immediately if you have fever, chills, unusual bleeding or bruising,
diarrhea, or a cough. Methotrexate may increase skin sensitivity
to sunlight. Limit sun exposure until you see how the medicine affects
you. After you stop taking methotrexate, you may experience back
pain, blurred vision, confusion, seizures, dizziness, fever, or
unusual fatigue; consult your doctor immediately.
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