Women should wait at least four months after stopping methotrexate to become pregnant. The less common side effects of long-term methotrexate treatment include liver damage and developing reversible liver scarring. The risk of liver damage increases if a person drinks alcohol, has abnormal kidney function, is obese, has diabetes or has had prior liver disease. Years after the drug, in rare occasions, certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma, and bone marrow toxicity have occurred.
Methotrexate can cause a reduced white blood cell count, increasing infection risk. Individuals taking methotrexate must have regular blood tests to ensure that the drug is safely processed by the body including the liver, white blood cells and bone marrow. Additional tests are needed at regular intervals. Talk with your health care provider about other tests needed. The Patient Navigation Center is here to provide personalized information about your psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis treatment.
When used in cancer treatments, methotrexate stops cancer cells reproducing. This helps prevent them growing and spreading in your body. Once your dose of methotrexate has been increased to a full dose, it may take up to 12 weeks before you notice any benefits.
It's important to keep taking methotrexate. The medicine is working, even if you do not feel any different for a few months. If methotrexate works for you, you may need to take it for several years to control your symptoms. Methotrexate may increase the risk of problems with your liver or lungs, especially if you take a high dose. However, your doctor will monitor you very closely while you're taking methotrexate. Any concerns or problems will be found during routine check-ups.
Speak to your doctor or specialist nurse if you are worried about taking methotrexate. There is no evidence that methotrexate increases the risk of developing cervical cancer. When you start your treatment, your hospital consultant will usually give you the first few prescriptions for methotrexate. You will get 1 week's supply at a time.
They will monitor you closely to make sure that the medicine is working properly, the dose is at the correct level and not giving you too many side effects. Once the dose is right and your condition is stable, the consultant may ask your GP to continue your treatment. Your GP will also decide where you'll go for blood tests and how often. Once this is agreed, and if your blood results are OK, your GP will usually give you 1 month's supply of methotrexate at a time or 4 doses.
Methotrexate may lower the number of white cells in your blood. This can make you more likely to get an infection. It's important to reduce your risk of getting an infection. When possible, avoid close contact with people who you know are unwell.
Tell your doctor if you think you are getting a sore throat or if you have a high temperature. There are several different treatments that can help the symptoms of inflammatory conditions.
These include medicines, other types of therapy and even surgery. Your doctor will be able to recommend the best treatment for you, based on your condition and your symptoms. It's usually OK to drink alcohol if you take a low weekly dose of methotrexate 25mg or less for the long-term treatment of an inflammatory condition.
If you are taking high doses of methotrexate, ask your doctor for advice about drinking alcohol. There are no specific foods that you need to avoid while taking methotrexate. However, methotrexate may reduce your ability to fight infection. Therefore, it's best to avoid unpasteurised milk and soft cheeses. It's also best to avoid having too much caffeine contained in coffee, tea, some soft drinks and chocolate. This is because caffeine can stop methotrexate from working as well as it should.
However, if methotrexate makes you sick vomit or have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Look on the pill packet to find out what to do. This medicine can stay in a woman's body for 6 months after they stop taking it. For men, there is a risk that methotrexate can damage sperm.
This can affect the way a baby develops during pregnancy. Women and men wanting to try for a baby need to stop taking methotrexate at least 6 months before trying to conceive. Ask your doctor about changing to a different medicine before you stop using contraception.
Methotrexate may sometimes make you feel tired, or dizzy and light-headed. If you are feeling tired or dizzy, do not drive, ride a bike or use tools or machinery until you feel better. Page last reviewed: 24 March Next review due: 24 March Methotrexate - Brand names: Jylamvo, Maxtrex, Methofill, Metoject, Nordimet, Zlatal On this page About methotrexate Key facts Who can and cannot take methotrexate How and when to take methotrexate Side effects How to cope with side effects of methotrexate Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about methotrexate.
About methotrexate Methotrexate is a type of medicine called an immunosuppressant. Methotrexate is available on prescription only. NHS coronavirus advice As long as you have no symptoms of coronavirus infection, keep taking your prescribed immunosuppressant medicine as usual. Updated: 20 March Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today?
For conditions such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, you'll usually take methotrexate once a week. It's important to take it on the same day each week.
You'll get a patient card to record the details of your weekly dose and the day you take it. Keep this with you and show it to any healthcare staff involved in your care. Before and during treatment, you'll have blood tests to check your blood, liver and kidneys. You may also have a chest X-ray and a breathing test to check your lungs before starting treatment. Methotrexate can be used by adults and children. Tell your doctor before taking methotrexate if you: have ever had an allergic reaction to methotrexate or any other medicine are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or are breastfeeding have severe liver, kidney, or blood disease have an infection have mouth ulcers, or have been diagnosed with a stomach ulcer or duodenal ulcer are due to have a "live" vaccine this includes the live flu vaccine usually given to children.
Doses for inflammatory conditions For inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, the dose will vary. Taking methotrexate tablets Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. Taking methotrexate liquid Always use the oral syringe that comes with your medicine to measure your dose. Having methotrexate injections You will usually go to your GP surgery or a hospital outpatient clinic once a week to have your injection.
Methotrexate treatment for cancer If you're having methotrexate treatment for cancer, a doctor or nurse will usually give you an injection. What if I take too much? Urgent advice: Contact or advice if:. Important Do not take folic acid on the same day as your methotrexate. If therapy with methotrexate is your primary treatment, your doctor will try to control your severe psoriasis with the smallest amount of the drug for the shortest time. This will allow you eventually to use a milder treatment and keep your psoriasis in check.
Your doctor may also recommend certain lifestyle changes, such as diet changes and stress reduction, that may improve your condition. To get the best results, take your medication as prescribed by your doctor.
Ask any questions you have about your condition or medication. You can also learn more about turmeric and other treatments for psoriasis.
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CeraVe is a brand known for using gentle ingredients, so they have plenty of products for you to try to manage your psoriasis symptoms.
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