Metoject Pen
Metoject PEN helps to relieve symptoms and slow down the progression of certain diseases.
Form
injektioneste, liuos, esitäytetty kynä
Strength
12.5 mg
Active Ingredient
Methotrexate
Manufacturer
Medac Gesellschaft Für Klinische Spezialpräparate mbH
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide your dose, which is unique for you.
Method
Metoject PEN is given as an injection under the skin once a week. Your doctor or nurse will supervise, and you and your doctor will decide which day of the week you take it.
Important
Do not take Metoject PEN more than once a week. Taking too much can be deadly.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Inflammation of the mouth lining, indigestion, nausea, loss of appetite, stomach pain.
- •Abnormal liver test results (such as ASAT, ALAT, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase).
- •Mouth ulcers, diarrhea.
- •Rash, skin redness, itching.
- •Headache, tiredness, drowsiness.
- •Reduced blood cell formation, with a decrease in white blood cells, red blood cells, and/or platelets.
- •Persistent dry cough, shortness of breath, and fever. These can be signs of lung inflammation.
RARE
- •Sore throat.
- •Inflammation of the bowels, vomiting, inflammation of the pancreas, black or tar-like stools, stomach and gut ulcers and bleeding.
- •Sunburn-like reactions due to increased skin sensitivity to sunlight, hair loss, increased rheumatic nodules, skin ulcers, shingles, blood vessel inflammation, herpes-like rash, hives.
- •Onset of diabetes.
- •Dizziness, confusion, depression.
- •Decreased albumin level in blood.
- •Decrease in all blood cells and platelets.
- •Bladder or vaginal inflammation and ulcers, impaired kidney function, abnormal urination.
- •Joint pain, muscle pain, decreased bone mass.
- •Gum inflammation.
- •Increased skin pigmentation, acne, blue spots on the skin due to bleeding (bruises, petechiae), allergic blood vessel inflammation.
- •Decreased number of antibodies in the blood.
- •Infection (including reactivation of inactive chronic infection), red eyes (conjunctivitis).
- •Mood swings.
- •Vision problems.
- •Inflammation of the heart sac, fluid buildup around the heart, heart compression due to fluid around the heart.
- •Low blood pressure.
- •Scarring of the lungs (pulmonary fibrosis), shortness of breath and bronchial asthma, fluid buildup around the lungs.
- •Stress fracture.
- •Electrolyte imbalances.
- •Fever, poor wound healing.
- •Acute toxic enlargement of the large intestine (toxic megacolon).
- •Increased nail pigmentation, nail bed inflammation (acute paronychia), deep hair follicle infection (furunculosis), visible enlargement of small blood vessels.
- •Pain, weakness or numbness/tingling sensation / lower response to stimulation than normal, changes in taste (metallic taste), seizures, paralysis, meningism.
- •Decreased vision, non-inflammatory eye disease (retinopathy).
- •Loss of libido, impotence, breast enlargement in men, impaired sperm production (oligospermia), menstrual disorders, vaginal discharge.
- •Enlarged lymph nodes (lymphoma).
- •Lymphoproliferative disorders (abnormal growth of white blood cells).
- •Increased number of certain types of white blood cells.
- •Nosebleed.
- •Protein in urine.
- •Feeling of weakness (asthenia).
- •Jaw bone damage (due to abnormal growth of white blood cells).
- •Tissue damage at the injection site.
- •Skin redness and peeling.
- •Swelling.
- •Coughing up blood or blood in saliva. These can be signs of lung bleeding.
- •Signs of liver damage, like yellow skin or eyes. Metoject PEN can cause chronic liver damage, scarring, fatty liver, liver inflammation, and liver failure.
- •Allergic reactions such as rash, red itchy skin, swelling of hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, mouth or throat (which may cause difficulty swallowing or breathing), and feeling weak. These can be signs of a severe allergic reaction or anaphylactic shock.
- •Signs of kidney damage, like swollen hands, feet, or ankles, changes in how often you urinate, less urine (oliguria), or no urine at all (anuria). These can be signs of kidney failure.
- •Infection symptoms like fever, chills, body aches, and sore throat. This medicine can make you more likely to get infections, including severe ones like certain types of pneumonia or blood poisoning.
- •Symptoms like weakness on one side of the body (stroke), or pain, swelling, redness, and unusual warmth in one leg (deep vein thrombosis). These can happen if a blood clot travels and blocks a blood vessel.
- •Fever and significant worsening of general health or sudden fever with sore throat or mouth pain, or problems urinating. This medicine can cause a rapid decrease in certain white blood cells (agranulocytosis) and severe bone marrow suppression.
- •Unexpected bleeding, such as bleeding gums, blood in urine, bloody vomit, or bruises. These can be signs of a significant decrease in platelets due to severe bone marrow suppression.
- •Symptoms like severe headache often with fever, stiff neck, feeling unwell, vomiting, confusion, and sensitivity to light. These can be signs of inflammation of the brain membranes (acute aseptic meningitis).
- •Certain brain diseases (encephalopathy/leukoencephalopathy) have been reported in cancer patients receiving methotrexate. Signs of these brain diseases can include changes in mental state, movement problems (ataxia), vision problems, or memory issues.
- •Severe skin rash or blistering of the skin (or in the mouth, eyes, and genital area). These can be signs of Stevens-Johnson syndrome or Lyell's syndrome (toxic epidermal necrolysis).
Important Warnings
- Do not use Metoject PEN if you are allergic to methotrexate or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Do not use Metoject PEN if you have liver, severe kidney, or blood disease.
- Do not use Metoject PEN if you regularly drink a lot of alcohol.
- Do not use Metoject PEN if you have a severe infection like tuberculosis, HIV, or another immune deficiency.
- Do not use Metoject PEN if you have mouth ulcers, stomach ulcers, or bowel ulcers.
Show 6 more warnings
- Do not use Metoject PEN if you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. This medicine can cause birth defects, harm your baby, or lead to miscarriage.
- Do not use Metoject PEN if you are getting live vaccines.
- This medicine can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Avoid strong sunlight, sunbeds, and sunlamps. Protect your skin with clothes and high SPF sunscreen.
- Diarrhea can be a side effect. If you have diarrhea, tell your doctor right away, as treatment might need to stop.
- If you or someone caring for you notice new or worsening neurological symptoms like muscle weakness, vision changes, confusion, memory issues, or personality changes, contact your doctor immediately. These could be signs of a very rare and serious brain infection called PML.
- This medicine can make you feel tired or dizzy, which might affect your ability to drive or use machines. If you feel tired or drowsy, do not drive or operate machinery.
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)