Injexate
Injexate is a medicine containing methotrexate, used to slow down disease progression by affecting cell growth, reducing immune system activity, and treating inflammation.
Form
injektioneste, liuos, esitäytetty injektori
Strength
7.5 mg
Active Ingredient
Methotrexate
Manufacturer
Accord Healthcare B.V.
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide your specific dose, which is given as an injection once a week.
Method
The medicine is given as an injection under the skin. A healthcare professional will administer it or teach you how to inject it yourself.
Important
Injexate is taken only once a week. Taking too much or too often can be life-threatening.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Inflammation of the mouth lining, indigestion, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain
- •Abnormal liver function tests
- •Mouth ulcers, diarrhea
- •Rash, skin redness, itching
- •Headache, tiredness, drowsiness
- •Reduced formation of white or red blood cells and/or platelets
- •Persistent dry cough, shortness of breath, fever (signs of lung inflammation)
RARE
- •Spitting or coughing up blood (signs of lung bleeding)
- •Symptoms of severe liver damage (e.g., yellow skin or eyes, cirrhosis, fibrosis, fatty liver, hepatitis, liver failure)
- •Severe allergic reactions (e.g., widespread rash, red and itchy skin, swelling of hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, mouth, or throat, feeling faint)
- •Kidney damage (e.g., swelling of hands, ankles or feet, changes in urination frequency, decreased or absent urine output, kidney failure)
- •Signs of severe infection (e.g., fever, chills, aches, sore throat, severe pneumonia, sepsis)
- •Blood clots (e.g., weakness on one side of the body, pain, swelling, redness, and unusual warmth in one leg)
- •Severe decrease in white blood cells (agranulocytosis), severe bone marrow suppression (e.g., sudden fever with sore throat or mouth, urination problems)
- •Unexpected bleeding (e.g., from gums, blood in urine, vomiting blood, bruising), signs of significantly low platelet count
- •Meningitis (e.g., severe headache often with fever, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion, sensitivity to light)
- •Brain diseases (e.g., changes in mental state, movement disorders, visual disturbances, memory disorders)
- •Severe skin reactions (e.g., severe rashes or blisters on skin, in mouth, eyes, genitals, known as Stevens-Johnson syndrome or Lyell's syndrome)
- •Sore throat (Pharyngitis)
- •Intestinal inflammation, vomiting, pancreatitis, black or tarry stools, stomach/intestinal ulcers and bleeding
- •Sunburn-like reactions (due to increased sun sensitivity), hair loss, increased rheumatoid nodules, skin ulcers, shingles, vasculitis, herpes-like rash, hives
- •Onset of adult diabetes
- •Dizziness, confusion, depression
- •Reduced serum albumin
- •Reduced count of all blood cells and platelets
- •Bladder or vaginal inflammation and ulcers, impaired kidney function, urination disorders
- •Joint pain, muscle pain, decreased bone density
- •Gingivitis (gum inflammation)
- •Increased skin pigmentation, acne, blue spots on skin from bleeding (ecchymosis, petechiae), allergic vasculitis, reduced blood antibodies
- •Infection (including reactivation of inactive chronic infection), conjunctivitis (red eyes), mood swings
- •Visual disturbances
- •Heart issues (pericarditis, fluid accumulation around heart, cardiac tamponade)
- •Low blood pressure
- •Lung scarring (pulmonary fibrosis), shortness of breath, bronchial asthma, fluid accumulation in the lungs
- •Stress fracture
- •Electrolyte disorders
- •Fever, impaired wound healing
- •Acute toxic megacolon (severe colon widening)
- •Increased nail pigmentation, nail bed inflammation, deep hair follicle infection, visible capillary enlargement
- •Local injection site injury (e.g., sterile abscesses, changes in fat tissue) after injection
- •Neurological symptoms (e.g., pain, loss of strength/sensation, numbness/tingling, metallic taste, seizures, paralysis, meningism)
- •Visual impairment, non-inflammatory eye disease (retinopathy)
- •Sexual/fertility issues (e.g., loss of libido, impotence, gynecomastia in men, impaired sperm formation, menstrual cycle disturbances, vaginal discharge)
- •Enlarged lymph nodes (lymphoma)
- •Lymphoproliferative disorders (abnormal growth of white blood cells)
- •Increased white blood cell count
- •Nosebleed
- •Protein in urine
- •Feeling of weakness
- •Jaw bone damage (due to overgrowth of white blood cells)
- •Skin redness and peeling
- •Swelling
- •Tissue damage at injection site
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to methotrexate or any other ingredient.
- Avoid if you have severe liver, kidney disease, or a blood disorder.
- Do not use if you regularly drink large amounts of alcohol.
- Avoid if you have a severe infection like tuberculosis, HIV, or another immune deficiency.
- Do not use if you have mouth, stomach, or intestinal ulcers.
Show 3 more warnings
- Avoid live vaccines during methotrexate treatment.
- Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding; women must avoid pregnancy for 6 months and men fathering children for 3 months after treatment ends.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you cough or spit blood, as this could be a sign of lung bleeding.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category C
Suitable for older adults, with specific precautions. For the treatment of conditions other than cancer only once weekly. Organtoxic such as kidneys, liver and bone marrow. Reduce the dose already in mild renal impairment. Avoid use in severe renal impairment. Consider the numerous potential interactions. Remember blood tests to monitor safety. (updated 6.11.2023)