Manufacturer: Ipca Laboratories Ltd
Salt Composition : Methotrexate(15mg)
Folitrax 15 Tablet may be used alone or in combination with other medicines. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking too much of it can cause serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to. You should avoid consumption of alcohol while taking this medicine as it may increase your risk of liver damage.
The most common side effects of this medicine are ulcerative stomatitis, hairloss, low blood cell count, increased liver enzymes, nausea, and abdominal distress. Your doctor may advise you to take folic acid to reduce some of these. If they do not go away or get worse, tell your doctor. There may be ways of preventing or reducing these effects. This medicine may lower your ability to fight infections and lead to problems with your blood, liver, or kidneys. Your doctor may perform several tests such as blood tests, X-rays, and physical examinations both before and during treatment with this medicine to check for these.
Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have problems related to the stomach, liver, or kidney, or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your healthcare team know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding as it may harm the baby.
Folitrax 15 Tablet inhibits enzymes (dihydrofolate reductase), prevents cell division and leads to anti-inflammatory actions. Folitrax 15 Tablet kills cancer cells by preventing them from making DNA. Folitrax 15 Tablet can help control psoriasis by retarding the production of skin cells and suppressing inflammation. Folitrax 15 Tablet may treat rheumatoid arthritis by suppressing the immune system, preventing it from attacking the body's cells. This helps reduce the inflammation that causes swollen and stiff joints in rheumatoid arthritis, or damage to bowel in Crohn's disease.
Transport of MTX across the capillary and cell membranes of the liver, kidney, and skin is rapid, so that equilibrium ratios of tissue to plasma concentrations (plasma concentrations > 1 µM) are established on a time scale consistent with plasma flow limitation.
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Folitrax
Ulcerative stomatitis
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Increased liver enzymes
Hair loss
Decreased blood cells (red cells, white cells, and platelets)
Methotrexate can cause fetal death or teratogenic effects when administered to a pregnant woman. Methotrexate is contraindicated in pregnant women with psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis and should be used in the treatment of neoplastic diseases only when the potential benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus.
Folitrax 15 Tablet is highly unsafe to use during pregnancy. Seek your doctor's advice as studies on pregnant women and animals have shown significant harmful effects to the developing baby.
It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Folitrax 15 Tablet.
Folitrax 15 Tablet is unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Data suggests that the drug may cause toxicity to the baby.
Methotrexate is indicated in the management of selected adults with severe, active, rheumatoid arthritis (ACR criteria), or children with active polyarticular-course juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, who have had an insufficient therapeutic response to, or are intolerant of, an adequate trial of first-line therapy ...
Drug-Drug Interactions: METHOTREXATE may interact with pain killers (celecoxib, acetaminophen, hydrocodone), anti-depressant (duloxetine), immunosuppressants (etanercept), anti-rheumatoid (adalimumab), antacid (esomeprazole), and anti-malarial (hydroxychloroquine).
Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid consuming alcohol whilst on treatment with METHOTREXATE.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor if you have immunodeficiency conditions, bone marrow problems, low white blood cell count, low platelet count, serious anaemia, liver problems due to alcohol abuse, or chronic liver disease.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
CELECOXIB
ACETAMINOPHEN
HYDROCODONE
DULOXETINE
ETANERCEPT
ADALIMUMAB
ESOMEPRAZOLE
HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE
Do not chew, crush or break it. Folitrax 15 Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
Store below 30°C
If you miss a dose of Folitrax 15 Tablet, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.
Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
Drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated while taking this medication.
Take folic acid if advised by your doctor. This will help lessen the side effects of this medicine.
It may take from weeks to months for Folitrax 15 Tablet to work. Keep taking the medication as prescribed.
Your doctor may get regular blood test done to monitor your kidney function, liver function and level of blood cells in your blood.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine as it may increase the risk of side effects.
It can be harmful to an unborn baby. Avoid pregnancy for at least 6 months after your last dose.
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Folitrax 15 Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
Q. Can Folitrax 15 Tablet cause mouth ulcers?
Yes, Folitrax 15 Tablet can cause a sore mouth and mouth ulcers as side effects in some cases. Taking folic acid along with this medicine may help in reducing the ulcers. Ask your doctor if the dose can be reduced as dose reduction may further help in reducing the ulcers.
Q. Why do I have to take folic acid with Folitrax 15 Tablet?
Folic acid is required to make new cells in the body and Folitrax 15 Tablet decreases the folic acid levels in the body. Folic acid can help reduce some of the common side effects of Folitrax 15 Tablet such as mouth ulcers, hair loss, nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain, fatigue, anemia and liver problems.
Q. Why do I need to take regular blood tests while taking Folitrax 15 Tablet?
Regular blood tests will help your doctor to check your response to Folitrax 15 Tablet and monitor you for side effects. You will need to regularly check your liver function and your blood counts (white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets). Your doctor may also order additional tests depending on the results.
Q. Can Folitrax 15 Tablet use make me more prone to infections?
Folitrax 15 Tablet may decrease the activity of your immune system. As a result, you may develop serious infections. There have been rare reports which suggest occurrence of serious lung infections with Folitrax 15 Tablet use. If you have an active infection, Folitrax 15 Tablet should be used with extreme caution.
