Pharmacokinetics Side Effects of Methotrexate

According to Medline Plus, methotrexate is a drug with such severe side effects that it should only be given for life-threatening cancers or other very severe conditions that don't respond to other medicines.

Types

• Methotrexate may cause minor side effects, serious side effects and/or life-threatening side effects.

Common Side Effects

• Minor side effects may include loss of appetite, hair loss and dizziness. Serious side effects include sudden loss of vision, seizures, confusion, weakness or paralysis and a loss of consciousness. It's important to let your doctor know if your minor side effects continue over time, or if you develop any serious side effects.

Considerations

• Methotrexate can significantly interfere with many organ systems and cause life-threatening disorders of the liver, blood-producing bone marrow, lungs, lining of the gastrointestinal tract, immune system, and skin. It can even cause a form of cancer known as lymphoma.

Tips

• If you drink alcohol while taking methotrexate, you significantly increase your risk of developing side effects in your liver that can cause severe damage and even death. If you're on radiation therapy for your cancer, methotrexate increases the chances of radiation damage to your skin, bones, and other body parts.

Warnings

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen increase the chance that you'll experience severe side effects from methotrexate.