Methotrexate 2.5 Mg Tablets
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Methotrexate 2.5mg Tablets
(Methotrexate)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine
because it contains important information for you.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have further questions, please ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed on this leaflet. See section
4.
In this leaflet:
1. What Methotrexate Tablets are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take Methotrexate Tablets
3. How to take Methotrexate Tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Methotrexate Tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Methotrexate Tablets are and what they are used for
The active substance of Methotrexate Tablets, methotrexate, is an antimetabolite and immunosuppressant (medicine which affects the reproduction of the body's cells and reduces the activity of the immune system).
Methotrexate is used to treat:
• active rheumatoid arthritis,
• severe psoriasis, especially plaque-type,
• psoriatic arthritis in adult patients who have tried other treatments but their illness has not improved.
Your doctor will be able to explain how Methotrexate Tablets might help in your particular condition.
2. What you need to know before you take Methotrexate Tablets
Do not take Methotrexate Tablets
• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to methotrexate or any of the other ingredients.
• if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breast-feeding.
• if you have severe liver problems.
• if you have severe kidney problems.
• if you have any serious blood disorder.
• if you have a medical condition or are receiving medication which lowers your resistance to infection.
• if you are taking antibiotics which prevent the production of folic acid (vitamin B9) such as co-trimoxazole.
• if you have an active infectious disease (e.g. fever, chills, joint pain).
Warnings and precautions
Medicines are not always suitable for everyone. Tell your doctor before you take Methotrexate Tablets if you suffer from or have suffered in the past from any of the following conditions; if you:
• have any mild or moderate kidney disease.
• have liver disease.
• have any blood disorders or reduction in red blood cells (anaemia).
• have diarrhoea.
• have gastro-intestinal (digestive) problems.
• have or have ever suffered from mental illness.
• have received or you are receiving radiotherapy.
• have received any vaccinations recently or you are due to have any.
• have any symptoms or signs of infection.
• have excess fluid, between the lungs and chest wall or abdominal swelling.
Regular Checkups
Whilst being treated with this medicine your doctor will want to monitor your progress on a weekly basis until your therapy is stable. Thereafter, you will be monitored every 2 to 3 months, whilst taking the medicine. These checks may include taking blood and urine samples to check your blood cells and to make sure that your liver and kidneys are working properly. It is important that you do not miss any blood tests.
There may also be a chest x-ray and a physical examination to check for swelling of your lymph nodes (glands in your neck, armpits and groin). Any unusual swellings should also be reported to your doctor.
Other medicines and Methotrexate Tablets
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Some medicines can affect the way Methotrexate Tablets work, or Methotrexate Tablets can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time. These include:
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines e.g. ibuprofen (medicines taken for pain relief), aspirin or similar medicines (salicylates).
• probenecid, sulfinpyrazone (used to treat gout).
• thiazides (diuretics used for the treatment of fluid retention e.g. bendroflumethiazide).
• medicines taken for diabetes (including insulin and tablets).
• antibiotics such as penicillins, ciprofloxacin, sulphonamides, co-trimoxazole, trimethoprim, tetracycline and chloramphenicol.
• para-aminobenzoic acid, acitretin (used to treat psoriasis or skin disorders).
• phenytoin (medicine often used to treat epilepsy).
• vitamin supplements containing folic acid.
• nitrous oxide (used for general anaesthesia and pain relief).
• vaccinations.
Methotrexate Tablets with food and drink
Alcohol should be avoided during methotrexate therapy.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Do not take Methotrexate Tablets if you think you might be pregnant or planning to get pregnant. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Methotrexate can cause birth defects, harm unborn babies or cause miscarriages and so it is very important that it is not given to pregnant patients or patients planning to become pregnant. It may also affect women's periods; they may become less frequent or stop completely. Methotrexate can affect sperm and egg production with the potential to cause birth defects. You and your partner should avoid conception (becoming pregnant or fathering children) for at least three months after your treatment with methotrexate has stopped.
You should not take Methotrexate Tablets if you are breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
You can experience drowsiness, loss of co-ordination or blurred vision during methotrexate treatment. Do not drive or use any tools or machines if you have such symptoms. The full list of side effects are listed in Section 4.
Methotrexate Tablets contain lactose
If you have been told by your doctor that you have intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
3. How to take Methotrexate Tablets
Always take Methotrexate Tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. The usual dose is:
Dosage for rheumatoid arthritis:
You will usually take your tablets once a week on the same day each week or three divided oral doses of 2.5mg at 12-hour intervals each week. The dose will normally be between 7.5 and 20mg. However, this may be changed depending upon your response to treatment.
Elderly
Elderly patients may need smaller doses of methotrexate.
Children
Not recommended for use in children.
Dosage for psoriasis:
Adults: For severe psoriasis, the usual dose is 10 mg to 25 mg by mouth, once weekly. This should be adjusted according to your response to treatment and side effects.
Elderly: No dosage adjustment required.
Children: Not recommended for use in children.
These doses may be adjusted if you are receiving other medication. Your doctor will decide the correct dose for you, if you want more information you should ask your doctor.
If you have the impression that the effect of Methotrexate Tablets is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take more Methotrexate Tablets than you should
This medicine is usually taken once a week. If you take more of the medicine than you should, a physician or nearest hospital casualty department must be contacted immediately. Take your medicine package with you if you go to a doctor or hospital.
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If you forget to take Methotrexate Tablets
Take the forgotten dose as soon as you remember if this is within two days. However, if you have missed a dose by more than two days, please contact your doctor for advice. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Methotrexate Tablets
Do not stop taking the tablets unless your doctor tells you to. If you have any further questions on how to take this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Methotrexate Tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms after taking this medicine. Although they are very rare, these symptoms can be serious.
• Severe skin rash that causes blistering (this can affect the mouth and tongue). These may be signs of a condition known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome. Your doctor will stop your treatment in these cases.
• Persistent cough, pain or difficulty breathing, or becoming breathless, methotrexate can cause inflammation of the lungs.
• Skin rash and fever with swollen glands, particularly in the first two months of treatment, as these may be signs of a hypersensitivity reaction.
• Sore throat, fever, chills, or achiness, methotrexate can make you more likely to catch infections.
• Loss of coordination, loss of ability to speak or understand speech, weakness and inability to move one side of the body or the whole body, convulsions or fits.
• Swelling of the hands, ankles or feet (which may be a sign of kidney damage).
• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eye (a sign of liver damage).
• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction), although very rare you may experience sudden itchy skin rash (hives), swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, mouth or throat(which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing), wheeze, and you may feel you are going to faint.
Other side-effects that may occur are:
• Drowsiness
• Convulsions
• Loss of coordination
• Confusion
• Liver damage (seen as yellowing of the skin and whites of the eye)
• Kidney damage
• Low levels of white and red blood cells and cells that clot blood
• Infection, reduced resistance to infection
• Abnormal red blood cell function
• May encourage the development of diabetes
• Inability to move
• Inability to move in one half of the body
• Dizziness
• Headaches, Blurred vision
• Loss of ability to speak or understand speech
• Slow thought process
• Mood alteration
• Black or tarry stools
• Skin ulcers and erosions of inflamed areas, in psoriasis patients
• Damaged skin becomes inflamed on re-exposure to radiation and sunlight
• Reduced ability to become pregnant and reduced ability to father children
• Blood in the urine
• Raised liver enzymes
• Weakening or softening of bones
• Unusual sensations in the head
• Anorexia (loss of appetite)
• Loss of interest in, or inability to have sex
• Stomach pains and soreness of the mouth, throat and lips
• Inflamed blood vessels
• Feeling sick, being sick and/or diarrhoea
• Irritation or swelling of the vaginal tissues, vaginal ulcers
• Pain or difficulty in passing urine
• The need to pass urine more often than usual
• Joint and muscle pain
• Chills and fever
• Changes in skin colouration
• Hair loss
• Red spots on the skin, skin lesions, acne, boils
• Flaking skin, redness
• Itchiness and rash
• Sensitivity to light
• Eye irritation
• Tiredness
• General feeling of illness
• Other metabolic changes
If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via:
UK
The Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.aov.uk/vellowcard or Ireland
HPRA Pharmacovigilance
Earlsfort Terrace , IRL- Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 6764971, Fax: +353 1 6762517
Website: www.hpra.ie. e-mail: _medsafety@hpra.ie
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Methotrexate Tablets
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
This medicine has no special storage temperature requirements.
Store in the original container to protect from light.
Do not use Methotrexate Tablets after the expiry date which is stated on the blister and the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Methotrexate Tablets contain
Each tablet contains 2.5 mg of the active ingredient methotrexate.
The other ingredients are anhydrous calcium hydrogen phosphate, lactose monohydrate, sodium starch glycolate, microcrystalline cellulose, purified talc and magnesium stearate.
What Methotrexate Tablets look like and contents of the pack
Methotrexate Tablets are yellow coloured, circular, biconvex, uncoated tablets plain on both sides.
Methotrexate 2.5 mg Tablets are available in blister packs of 7,10,14, 20, 24, 28, 30, 56, 60, 84, 90,100 and 112 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Morningside Healthcare Ltd 115 Narborough Road Leicester LE3 OPA United Kingdom
Manufacturer
Morningside Pharmaceuticals Ltd 5 Pavilion Way, Loughborough, LE11 5GW United Kingdom
This medicinal product is authorised in the Member States of the EEA under the following names:
Ireland - Methotrexate 2.5mg Tablets UK - Methotrexate 2.5mg Tablets
This leaflet was last approved in April 2015.
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