Injexate
Injexate is a medicine containing methotrexate that slows down the progression of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease by affecting cell growth, the immune system, and inflammation.
Form
injektioneste, liuos, esitäytetty injektori
Strength
15 mg
Active Ingredient
Methotrexate
Manufacturer
Accord Healthcare B.V.
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide the right dose for you, as it is adjusted individually.
Method
Administered as an injection under the skin (subcutaneously) once a week. Your doctor or nurse will show you how to do it, or you may learn to inject it yourself into your stomach or thigh.
Important
This medicine must be taken only once a week. Taking it more often can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Mouth inflammation, indigestion, nausea, loss of appetite, stomach pain
- •Abnormal liver function test results
- •Mouth sores, diarrhea
- •Rash, red skin, itching
- •Headache, fatigue, drowsiness
- •Reduced blood cell production, leading to fewer white/red blood cells and/or platelets
RARE
- •Sore throat
- •Intestinal inflammation, vomiting, pancreatitis, black or tarry stools, gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding
- •Sunburn-like reactions, increased skin sensitivity to sunlight, hair loss, increased rheumatic nodules, skin ulcers, shingles, vasculitis, herpes-like rash, hives
- •Onset of adult-onset diabetes
- •Dizziness, confusion, depression
- •Decreased serum albumin
- •Decrease in all blood cells and platelets
- •Bladder or vaginal inflammation and ulceration, impaired kidney function, urination disorders
- •Joint pain, muscle pain, decreased bone mass
- •Gum inflammation
- •Increased skin pigmentation, acne, blue spots on skin due to bleeding (ecchymosis, petechiae), allergic vasculitis, decreased blood antibodies
- •Infection (including reactivation of inactive chronic infection), conjunctivitis (red eyes), mood swings, vision problems
- •Pericarditis (inflammation around the heart), fluid buildup around the heart, heart compression due to fluid, low blood pressure
- •Lung scarring (pulmonary fibrosis), shortness of breath and asthma, fluid in lung cavity
- •Stress fracture, electrolyte imbalances, fever, impaired wound healing
- •Acute toxic dilation of the intestine (toxic megacolon)
- •Increased nail pigmentation, nail fold inflammation (acute paronychia), deep hair follicle infection (furunculosis), visible dilation of small blood vessels
- •Local injection site injury (formation of sterile abscesses, changes in fatty tissue) after intramuscular or subcutaneous injection
- •Pain, loss of strength or sensation, numbness or tingling / lower response to stimulation than normal, taste changes (metallic taste), convulsions, paralysis, meningism (inflammation-like symptoms around the brain/spinal cord)
- •Vision impairment, non-inflammatory eye disease (retinopathy)
- •Loss of sexual desire, impotence, breast enlargement in men, impaired sperm formation (oligospermia), menstrual cycle disorders, vaginal discharge
- •Enlarged lymph nodes (lymphoma), lymphoproliferative disorders (abnormal growth of white blood cells)
- •Increased count of certain white blood cells, nosebleeds, protein in urine, feeling of weakness, lung bleeding, jaw bone damage (due to abnormal white blood cell growth), 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 in this medicine.
- Do not use if you have severe liver, kidney, or blood diseases.
- Avoid large amounts of alcohol during treatment.
- Do not use if you have a severe infection, such as tuberculosis, HIV, or other immune deficiency syndrome.
- Do not use if you have mouth sores, stomach ulcers, or intestinal ulcers.
Show 10 more warnings
- Do not receive live vaccines during treatment.
- Do not use if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, as methotrexate can cause birth defects, harm the fetus, or lead to miscarriage. Women must avoid pregnancy during and for at least six months after treatment. Men must avoid fathering a child during and for at least three months after treatment.
- Inform your doctor if you are elderly, generally unwell, or feel weak.
- Inform your doctor if you have impaired liver function.
- Inform your doctor if you are dehydrated.
- Inform your doctor if you have diabetes and are on insulin treatment.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you experience coughing or spitting up blood, as this could be a sign of acute lung bleeding.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you notice new or worsening neurological symptoms like muscle weakness, vision problems, confusion, or memory changes, as these could be signs of a rare but serious brain inflammation (PML).
- This medicine can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Avoid strong sun exposure and tanning beds unless advised by your doctor.
- If you experience diarrhea, tell your doctor immediately as it may be a toxic effect of the medicine and treatment may need to be stopped.
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)