METHOTREXATE SHOULD BE USED ONLY BY PHYSICIANS WHOSE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE INCLUDE THE USE OF ANTIMETABOLITE THERAPY BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS TOXIC REACTIONS (WHICH CAN BE FATAL): DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THE USE OF METHOTREXATE IN THE TREATMENT OF MALIGNANCY, PSORIASIS, AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. A premethotrexate evaluation is critical before prescribing. The evaluation should include a thorough history, current medications, renal and hepatic evaluation. PATIENTS SHOULD BE CLOSELY MONITORED FOR BONE MARROW, LIVER, LUNG AND KIDNEY TOXICITIES. Unexpectedly severe (sometimes fatal) bone marrow suppression, aplastic anemia, and gastrointestinal toxicity have been reported with concomitant administration of methotrexate (usually in high dosage) along with some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Major toxic effects, such as hepatic, pulmonary, renal and bone marrow abnormalities, require careful monitoring. contraindications include ren...
This is a blog by Kaleem Mohammed, PhD, for those who want to understand little more about health conditions and medications. He is a community pharmacist and chronic disease educator for Salt Lake County Health dept. As an Asst. Prof at University of Utah, he taught pharmacology to MD, PA and PharmD students. His Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 research has been cited by Drs. Gregg Samenza/EJ Corey (Nobel, 2019/1990)