Lupus Site - a guide for lupus patients and their families

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.