What Pain Reliever Can You Take With Methotrexate?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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You can usually carry on taking painkillers like paracetamol if needed, unless your doctor advises otherwise. Avoid taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin or ibuprofen, or medicines containing NSAIDs, such as over-the-counter cold medication, without first speaking to your doctor.

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What can you not take with methotrexate?

can be taken with other medications. You should not take methotrexate while taking antibiotics containing trimethoprim-sulfa (Bactrim®, Sulfatrim®, etc...) . If you are prescribed one of these medications for an infection, do not take your methotrexate that week.

Can I take ibuprofen if I am taking methotrexate?

Do not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. You can try a painkiller such as paracetamol. Do not drink too much alcohol.

Does methotrexate interact with Tylenol?

acetaminophen methotrexate

Methotrexate may cause liver problems , and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as acetaminophen may increase that risk.

What medicine can you take with methotrexate?

Your doctor may prescribe methotrexate alone. Or you may also take other drugs like aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, low-dose steroids, or other DMARDs. You'll probably take folic acid supplements along with methotrexate. This vitamin can help you lower your chance of certain side effects.

What can I take for a headache while on methotrexate?

You can usually carry on taking painkillers like paracetamol if needed, unless your doctor advises otherwise. Avoid taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin or ibuprofen, or medicines containing NSAIDs, such as over-the-counter cold medication, without first speaking to your doctor.

What happens if you take methotrexate and folic acid on the same day?

You may hear people suggest that you skip taking folic acid the same day that you take your methotrexate, but the jury is out on the benefit of doing this. “There are studies suggesting no decrease in the efficacy of MTX if taken the same day as folic acid, but the same may not be true for folinic acid.

Can you take methotrexate with naproxen?

Naproxen may increase the blood levels and side effects of methotrexate . You may be more likely to experience this interaction if you have kidney disease or are receiving a high dose of methotrexate. The risk may be less if you are using methotrexate once a week to treat certain forms of arthritis.

Can you drink coffee while taking methotrexate?

The significant relief with a schedule of coffee intake synchronized with MTX has urged the recommendation that adult patients with RA and MTX intolerance should drink “a few cups more coffee” on the day of MTX administration [4].

Why should you not touch methotrexate?

Even touching or inhaling the dust from the tablet can allow the medicine to get into the body . Methotrexate goes into sperm, so it's important that a man taking it doesn't get his partner pregnant. Whether you're male or female, you must use birth control while taking methotrexate.

Can I take Sudafed with methotrexate?

Cold remedies and RA

There is generally not an interaction between over-the-counter cold medication and immunosuppressant medications, such as methotrexate.

Can you take Tylenol with prednisone and methotrexate?

The bottom line. Tylenol and prednisone are generally safe to take together and are not known to interact with each other. However, both medications can interact with other types of drugs. It's important not to take more than the recommended maximum dosage of either medication.

Can you take Excedrin with methotrexate?

Some specific NSAIDs that should be avoided while taking methotrexate include: Aspirin ( Zorprin , Excedrin)

What happens if you don't take folic acid with methotrexate?

You should take folic acid with methotrexate to help prevent a folate deficiency . Taking methotrexate can lower levels of folate in your body. A folate deficiency can lead to symptoms like upset stomach, low blood cell counts, tiredness, muscle weakness, mouth sores, liver toxicity and nervous system symptoms.

Is it better to take methotrexate in the morning or at night?

“The most common side effects are fatigue a day or two after you take methotrexate, which is why I suggest taking it at night ,” he says. “Also gastrointestinal issues. Your stool may be loose, or you may feel queasy or nauseated for a day or two after.

Does methotrexate cause muscle pain?

Methotrexate may cause side effects . Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: joint or muscle pain. reddened eyes.

Can you take ibuprofen with methotrexate and prednisone?

Official Answer. There is a moderate interaction between Ibuprofen and prednisone . It should only used together on the instruction of a Doctor, and needs to be used with caution together especially if you are prone to stomach upset including stomach ulcers and bleeding.

Does methotrexate lower your immune system?

One-quarter of people who take the drug methotrexate for common immune system disorders—from rheumatoid arthritis to multiple sclerosis—mount a weaker immune response to a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, a new study shows.

Can you take methotrexate and Celebrex together?

Interactions between your drugs

Methotrexate may cause liver problems , and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as celecoxib may increase that risk.

Do you gain weight on methotrexate?

As helpful as this medication is, those taking methotrexate may experience some side effects, including nausea and vomiting, mouth sores and ulcers, headaches, and fatigue. 1 Research has shown that using this drug can also result in weight gain .

Is 20mg of methotrexate a lot?

The usual maximum weekly adult dose for oral methotrexate is 20 milligrams (due to increased risk of bone marrow suppression). The usual oral pediatric dose of methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis is 5 to 15 milligrams once weekly.

Does methotrexate shorten your life?

The results resoundingly confirm prior studies, finding methotrexate use for RA associated with a 70% reduction in mortality (or a mere 5% less after adjusting for the propensity to treat). The mortality risk was not affected by likelihood to withdraw methotrexate shortly before death.

Does methotrexate make you tired?

Even though MTX is effective in reducing pain and joint damage and improving joint function, patients taking MTX commonly report experiencing fatigue . And it isn't just a feeling of being tired.

How bad is methotrexate for you?

Methotrexate may cause serious or life-threatening skin reactions . If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: fever, rash, blisters, or peeling skin. Methotrexate may decrease the activity of your immune system, and you may develop serious infections.

Can I take vitamin D with methotrexate?

No interactions were found between methotrexate and Vitamin D3. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Should I drink lots of water with methotrexate?

Methotrexate may cause kidney damage. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids during your treatment with methotrexate, especially if you exercise or are physically active. Call your doctor if you think you might be dehydrated. You may become dehydrated if you sweat excessively or if you vomit, have diarrhea or have a fever.

What are the long term side effects of methotrexate?

If you are using methotrexate long term, a liver biopsy is usually recommended. Methotrexate use has rarely caused serious (sometimes fatal) side effects, such as lung problems, lung infections (Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia), skin reactions, diarrhea, and mouth sores (ulcerative stomatitis) .

Can methotrexate make you angry?

While methotrexate works for many patients, studies generally find that around 30 percent of patients experience nausea after taking the drug. Others deal with vomiting, mouth ulcers and hair loss. Behavioral symptoms can include moodiness and irritability .

What time of day is best to take methotrexate?

Most arthritis patients take methotrexate orally, in a dose consisting of several pills. Some find that splitting the dose eases GI side effects. Take half the pills in the morning and the other half 12 hours later, preferably with food.

Can I drink tea with methotrexate?

RELATED: 10 Common Food and Medication Interactions to Avoid

But for people on many medications that could interact with the tea, willow bark tea isn't recommended. If you take methotrexate, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), or blood-thinning medication, do not take willow bark.

Can you have a glass of wine with methotrexate?

Patients may drink alcohol whilst taking long-term low weekly doses of methotrexate (25mg or less) for skin conditions, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, but they should be advised that both alcohol and methotrexate can potentially damage the liver, so they should not drink more alcohol than ...

Can you take aspirin and methotrexate together?

– High dose aspirin plus methotrexate may increase kidney problems in people with rheumatoid arthritis. – NSAIDs plus methotrexate may cause a brief and mild increase in blood problems (low platelet count) in people with rheumatoid arthritis, particularly if NSAIDs are taken on the same day as methotrexate.

Can I take antihistamine with methotrexate?

No interactions were found between methotrexate and Zyrtec. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Can methotrexate cause backache?

Your doctor may give you a medicine to help prevent this. Tell your doctor right away if you have a change in urine amount, joint pain, stiffness, or swelling, lower back, side, or stomach pain, rapid weight gain, swelling of the feet or lower legs, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Is Tylenol an anti inflammatory?

Tylenol (acetaminophen) is not an anti-inflammatory or NSAID . It relieves minor aches and pains, but doesn't reduce swelling or inflammation. Compared to NSAIDs, Tylenol is less likely to increase blood pressure or cause stomach bleeding. But it can cause liver damage.

Can you take prednisone with methotrexate?

( Prednisone can safely be used with both conventional DMARDs , such as methotrexate, and biologics.)

Is Tylenol an NSAID?

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is known as a non-aspirin pain reliever. It is NOT an NSAID , which is described below. Acetaminophen relieves fever and headaches, and other common aches and pains. It does not relieve inflammation.

What vitamins should I take with methotrexate?

Taking folic acid helps replenish the folate your body loses because of the methotrexate. By replenishing folate, folic acid supplementation can help prevent common methotrexate side effects like nausea, vomiting, and mouth sores.

Why is methotrexate taken once a week?

Methotrexate, sold under the brand name Methoblastin, is an antifolate drug, which means it inhibits the activation of folic acid in the body. It is taken once per week to treat a range of conditions . These include rheumatoid arthritis, the skin disorder psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Can methotrexate affect your mood?

Mood changes are a rare side effect of methotrexate treatment but should be considered as correlates of its neurologic side effects. Physicians should ask about psychiatric side effects in patients treat- ed with methotrexate.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.