Methotrexate For Cancer (Systemic)
Brand Names : amethopterin
CategoryDescriptionMethotrexate (meth-o-TREX-ate) belongs to the group of medicines known
as antimetabolites. It is used to treat cancer of the breast, head and neck,
lung, blood, bone, and lymph, and tumors in the uterus. It may also be used
to treat other kinds of cancer, as determined by your doctor.
Methotrexate blocks an enzyme needed by the cell to live. This interferes
with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the
growth of normal body cells may also be affected by methotrexate, other effects
will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your
doctor. Other effects, like hair loss, may not be serious but may cause concern.
Some effects may not occur for months or years after the medicine is used.
Before you begin treatment with methotrexate, you and your doctor should
talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.
Methotrexate is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the
following dosage forms:
Oral
-
Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Parenteral
-
Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Brand NamesSome commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S. -
In Canada -
Generic name product may be available in the U.S. and Canada.
Another commonly used name is amethopterin
.
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