Get Informed: Abitrexate

152

Patient Comments About
Abitrexate

Active Ingredient(s)

Methotrexate

What does it do?

Abitrexate

This product is used primarily in the treatment of cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. It works by interfering with DNA synthesis, repair, and replication which primarily affects rapidly changing cells.

Last Text Update:
 2010-Jul-31 1:13 PM
Last Data Update:
 2010-Jul-30 9:04 PM

Other Names

  • Methotrexate
  • Abitrexate
  • Trexall
  • Rheumatrex
  • Metoject
  • Maxtrex

How Safe Is It?

Your Risk Rating
Please log in
Average Risk Rating
2:
Pregnancy Category
X

Black Box Warning

This product has a black box warning relating to its risks in pregnancy, its potentially fatal toxicities of lung, liver, skin, and GI systems, its increased risk of secondary lymphoma and opportunistic infections.

Facts & Figures

Date Approved
05 Sep 1979
Est US Patients*
966,600
Generic Available
Yes
OTC Available
No

User Age Distribution*

3

< 21

10

21-39

44

40-59

44

60+

Age (Years)

* Estimated number of US people currently taking Abitrexate or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.

Other Resources

Recent alerts for Abitrexate

There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Abitrexate during the past year.

Abitrexate Safety Report

2:

The iGuard risk rating for Abitrexate is orange. This rating takes into account the fact that Abitrexate has been associated with an increased risk of liver, kidney, lung and bone marrow problems. It means that should normally be used cautiously to minimize the risk of serious side effects.

Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings

  • Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Abitrexate interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.

What is Abitrexate used for?

iGuard is currently tracking more than 7,100 patients that use Abitrexate (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.

Disease / Condition % Average Severity
Rheumatoid Arthritis 72% mild 6 severe
Psoriatic Arthritis 15% mild 6 severe
Psoriasis 6% mild 6 severe
Lupus 4% mild 6 severe
Ankylosing Spondylitis 4% mild 6 severe
Dry Mouth 2% mild 5 severe
Sjogren's Syndrome 2% mild 5 severe
Polymyositis 2% mild 6 severe
Dry Eyes 2% mild 5 severe
Other 6% mild 8 severe

How well does Abitrexate work?

iGuard regularly polls our more than 7,100 users taking Abitrexate (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.

Average Satisfaction Score

(out of 10)

Average Effectiveness Score

(out of 10)

60 62
80%
of patients are confident that the good things about Abitrexate outweigh the bad things.
12%
of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Abitrexate.

Common Side Effects of Abitrexate

iGuard regularly polls our more than 7,100 users taking Abitrexate (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.

43%

43% of patients experience side-effects on Abitrexate

5%

5% of patients experience significant side-effects on Abitrexate


Most Common Side Effects...

  • 15% Nausea/Vomiting
  • 5% Abdo Pain/Cramps
  • 5% Mouth Sores
  • 5% Fatigue
  • 5% Hair Loss
  • 5% Headache
  • 5% Heartburn/Reflux
  • 5% Muscle Pain/Cramps
  • 5% Drowsiness
  • 5% Altered Taste/Smell
  • = 10%

Less than 1%: Breathlessness, Bruising, Dental Problems, Diarrhea, Dizziness, FLU-Like Symptoms, Itch/Rash, Light Sensitivity, Liver Problems, Loss of Appetite, Nasal/Sinus Congestion, Restlessness


Global Patient Feedback for Abitrexate (Methotrexate) ( Post a comment )

Comments, Questions, and Answers
Show Newest | Oldest first
English comments | Global comments

Question/Comment:

I started methotrexate almost 3 months ago to treat rheumatoid arthritis. My labs show that my markers for inflammation have dropped back down to normal.

Unfortunately, I feel worse than I did when I started the treatment. I started at 10mg 1x week, and I am now up to 20mg 1x/week (split over 2 days to lessen side effects).

I am in bed sleeping around the clock most of the week, with the one day before treatment I feel "normal".... Added in plaquenil & prednisone and have improved a bit..

34 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-07-20 21:45:25

Question/Comment:

I have been on mtr injectable for RA (was up to .08cc once a week now back down to .06 cc) for well over a year now, Humira injectable was added 8 months ago (one syringe every other week). I now have gained over 60 pounds without changing eating habits. Why?

57 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-07-03 14:33:48

Question/Comment:

I have been on 15 mg. (once weekly) of Methotrexate, primarily for a rash, with some arthritic joint pain. The rash is mild but has not gotten any better after 4 months on this drug. My breathing seems somewhat more labored and I do suffer from a clogged and then runny nose. I'm going to ask my doctor to take me off this drug as I see little benefit from it and possibly problems with it. I am also slightly enemic, but that has been there for years now.

69 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-06-14 03:14:26

Question/Comment:

My sister nearly died of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma 12 years ago. My doctor wants me to take MTX for Polymyalgia, as I have had it and been on prednisone for 3 years. As I try to wean off it, I am on 5 mgs now, my pain level goes up and my ESR is now 43 and CRP is 6.0.

If I add MTX, is my risk of lymphoma higher because of my sister's history? Or is non-Hodgkins lymphoma not connected to use of MTX?

72 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-05-11 12:40:02

iGuard Answer/Reply:

Non-Hodgkins lymphoma is related to methotrexate, in and of itself, not due to genetics. It is a possible risk if you take methotrexate. However, there are risks with all medications, and you and your doctor need to weigh risk versus benefit of taking this medication.

Posted: 2010-06-20 17:25:02

Question/Comment:

I know sometimes I may break out where I itch, I don't know if it is the plaquenil or methrotrexate, I have been taken both orally for about 4 years. But I don't have any side effects from plaquenil but I have side effects when I take methrotrexate stomach pain. I am taking both for RA and I have stiffness in my joints sometimes.

54 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-04-21 00:49:55

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