Methotrexate may cause injury or death to an unborn baby and should not be used during pregnancy to treat arthritis or psoriasis. Methotrexate is sometimes used to treat cancer during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Do not use this medicine to treat psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis if you have low blood cell counts, a weak immune system, alcoholism or chronic liver disease, or if you are breastfeeding.
YOU MAY NOT NEED TO TAKE METHOTREXATE EVERY DAY. Some people have died after incorrectly taking methotrexate every day. You must use the correct dose for your condition.
Methotrexate can cause serious or fatal side effects. Tell your doctor if you have diarrhea, mouth sores, cough, shortness of breath, upper stomach pain, dark urine, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness, confusion, seizure, or skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use methotrexate if you are allergic to it. You may not be able to take this medicine if you have:
alcoholism, cirrhosis, or chronic liver disease;
low blood cell counts;
a weak immune system or bone marrow disorder; or
if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Methotrexate is sometimes used to treat cancer in people who have a condition listed above. Your doctor will decide if this treatment is right for you.
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
liver problems, especially fluid in your stomach (ascites);
kidney disease;
lung problems, especially fluid in the lungs (pleural effusion);
radiation treatments; or
a stomach ulcer or ulcerative colitis.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Methotrexate may cause injury or death to an unborn baby and should not be used during pregnancy to treat arthritis or psoriasis. However, methotrexate is sometimes used to treat cancer during pregnancy.
Methotrexate can harm an unborn baby if the mother or the father is using this medicine.
If you are a woman, you may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using methotrexate and for at least 6 months after your last dose.
If you are a man, use effective birth control if your sex partner is able to get pregnant. Keep using birth control for at least 3 months after your last dose.
Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using methotrexate.
This medicine may affect fertility (ability to have children) in both men and women. However, it is important to use birth control to prevent pregnancy because methotrexate may harm the baby if a pregnancy does occur.
Do not breastfeed while using this medicine, and for at least 1 week after your last dose.
Do not give this medicine to a child without the advice of a doctor.
