Methotrexate – Some Issues
Written by Dragon Claw based on a variety of sources. References include The Lancet, Drugs.com and MedpageToday.
Methotrexate is commonly used for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and is often matched with Folate. There is a suggestion that General Practitioners does not optimise the needed dose for adequate control. Here are some points you could bring up with your clinician.
- Subcutaneous methotrexate (MTX) was underutilized but effective with most patients.
- Patients need to be more disciplined in dosing as prescribed.
- Subcutaneous administration of methotrexate, which boosts bioavailability, is superior to oral delivery.
- MTX is one the initial treatment steps well before biologics are considered
- Sometimes doctors switched patients to the more expensive biologic prematurely.
The key message is to use the correct doses of methotrexate and use it subcutaneously.