Injexate
Injexate contains methotrexate, a medicine that slows down cell growth, calms the immune system, and reduces inflammation, used to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease.
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide your specific dose, which can take 4-8 weeks to show effect.
Method
Injexate is given as an injection under the skin, usually by a healthcare professional. You might be taught to inject it yourself, but never try without proper training.
This medicine is given only once a week. Taking too much Injexate (methotrexate) can be fatal.
Possible Side Effects
- •Sore mouth, indigestion, nausea, loss of appetite, stomach pain, diarrhea, mouth ulcers.
- •Headache, tiredness, drowsiness.
- •Rash, red skin, itching.
- •Changes in blood tests (affecting white or red blood cells or platelets), abnormal liver test results.
- •Persistent dry cough, shortness of breath, fever (could be lung inflammation).
- •Severe allergic reaction (rash, itching, swelling of face/lips/throat, feeling faint).
- •Severe skin rashes or blisters (may also appear in mouth, eyes, or genitals), increased skin sensitivity to sun, hair loss, skin ulcers, shingles, hives, skin redness and peeling.
- •Signs of serious infection (fever, chills, body aches, sore throat), inflammation of gums or eyes.
- •Liver damage (yellow skin/eyes), kidney damage (swelling, changes in urination, protein in urine).
- •Coughing or spitting blood, unexpected bleeding (gums, urine, vomiting blood, bruising), stroke-like symptoms or blood clots (pain, swelling, redness, warmth in a leg), nosebleeds.
- •Severe headaches, stiff neck, fever, confusion, sensitivity to light (meningitis), changes in mental state, movement problems, vision or memory problems, seizures, paralysis, dizziness, depression.
- •Sudden drop in white blood cells (making you vulnerable to severe infections), decrease in all blood cells and platelets.
- •Pancreas or bowel inflammation, black or tarry stools, gastrointestinal bleeding, new diabetes, mood changes, low blood pressure, joint/muscle pain, bone thinning, heart inflammation or fluid around heart, lung scarring, stress fractures, electrolyte imbalance, slow wound healing, toxic bowel widening, jaw bone damage, swelling, tissue damage at injection site.
- •Loss of libido, impotence, breast enlargement in men, abnormal periods or vaginal discharge.
- •Enlarged lymph nodes.
Important Warnings
- Do not use Injexate if you are allergic to methotrexate or any of its ingredients.
- Do not use if you have severe liver or kidney disease, a blood disorder, severe infection (like tuberculosis or HIV), mouth or stomach ulcers, or other immune problems.
- Avoid large amounts of alcohol and live vaccines while using this medicine.
- Do not use Injexate if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, as it can harm the baby. Women should avoid pregnancy for 6 months after treatment, and men for 3 months after treatment.
- This medicine can cause fatigue and dizziness, so do not drive or use machines if you feel tired or drowsy.
Show 2 more warnings
- Methotrexate makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Avoid strong sun exposure and do not use sunbeds without your doctor's advice.
- Avoid large amounts of coffee, caffeinated drinks, and black tea during treatment.
Use in Elderly Patients
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)