Methotrexate risks
December 22, 2011
NPS is warning health
professionals to be alert to the
risks associated with prescribing
oral methotrexate.
Methotrexate, commonly used
for the treatment of some cancers,
is increasingly being prescribed in
low doses to treat autoimmune or
inflammatory disorders (usually in a
weekly dose, which can cause
difficulties for some people in
making sure they take the correct
dose on the correct day).
If the weekly dose is exceeded
this may result in a high rate of
adverse events, sometimes
resulting in fatal toxicity.
“Methotrexate is taken either as a
single dose once a week or as a
divided dose at 12 hourly intervals
over two days, once a week, and this
dosage can translate poorly into
instructions for patients,” NPS said.
As such, the NPS has urged
healthcare providers to stress the
importance of taking methotrexate
only as prescribed and to provide
clear written and verbal instructions
to ensure the regimen is understood.
In addition NPS has suggested
that for weekly regimens,
healthcare professionals and
patients agree on a specific day of
the week for taking methotrexate
(preferably one of significance for
the individual) and that they make
sure once-weekly dosing is not
confused with once-daily dosing.
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