INTRODUCTION

FOLITRAX 25MG contains methotrexate which belongs to a group of medicine called anti-metabolites. It works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. It can also be used as an immunosuppressant, which reduces the activity of the immune system. In larger doses, it can be used to treat various forms of cancer. In smaller doses, it can be used to treat severe form of psoriasis (a skin disease with thickened patches of inflamed red skin, often covered by silvery scales) and rheumatoid arthritis, when it has not responded to other treatments.

Methotrexate kills the rapidly multiplying cells of the skin in psoriasis. In rheumatoid arthritis, it reduces inflammation in joints by altering body's defence mechanism in immune system. In cancer, methotrexate inhibits the enzymes responsible for nucleotide synthesis and prevents cell division. FOLITRAX 25MG must not be given to pregnant or breastfeeding women. Consult your doctor before taking. Before taking this medicine, inform your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, anemia or weak immune system.

USES OF FOLITRAX 25MG

• Treats various forms of cancer such as choriocarcinoma, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, head and neck cancer, gastric cancer, osteogenic sarcoma, bladder cancer, Burkitt's lymphoma or advanced stages of childhood lymphoma
• Used in severe form of psoriasis
• Treats rheumatoid arthritis

HOW FOLITRAX 25MG WORKS

Methotrexate inhibits the enzymes responsible for nucleotide synthesis including dihydrofolate reductase, thymidylate synthase, aminoimidazole caboxamide ribonucleotide transformylase (AICART) and amido phosphoribosyl transferase which prevents cell division and leads to anti-inflammatory actions.

Since cellular proliferation in malignant tissues (cancerous tissue) are greater than in most normal tissues, methotrexate may impair malignant growth without causing any irreversible damage to normal tissues. Methotrexate has an immunosuppressive effect, resulting in the inhibition of lymphocyte multiplication. In psoriasis, it kills the rapidly multiplying skin cells.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

This medicine should be only given by a doctor or a nurse into a vein (intravenously), muscle (intramuscularly) or into an artery (intraarterially). It may also be given by an infusion (drip) into a vein. Your doctor will decide the correct dose for you and how often it must be given.

SIDE EFFECTS OF FOLITRAX 25MG

HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS

Feeling sick or being sick:

Try taking this medicine with, or just after, a meal and stick to simple meals. Do not eat rich or spicy food.

Stomach pain:

Try to rest and relax. You can eat and drink slowly or have smaller and frequent meals. Keeping a heat pad on your stomach may also help. If still pain persists, speak to your doctor.

WARNING & PRECAUTIONS

INTERACTIONS

Talk to your doctor, if you are taking,

• medicines used to relieve pain (e.g. ibuprofen, aspirin or similar medicines)
• medicines used to reduce the acid production (e.g. omeprazole, esomeprazole and pantoprazole)
• diuretics (water tablets)
• medicines used to treat diabetes (insulin)
• antibiotics (used to treat infection) such as penicillins, sulphonamides, co-trimoxazole, trimethoprim, tetracycline, chloramphenicol and para-aminobenzoic acid
• phenytoin (used to treat epilepsy)
• vitamin supplements containing folic acid
• probenecid (medicine used to treat gout)
• nitrous oxide (used for general anaesthesia and pain relief)
• retinoids, such as acitretin (a medicine used to treat psoriasis) or isotretinoin (used to treat severe acne)
• live virus vaccines
• mercaptopurine (medicine used to treat blood cell cancer)
• theophylline (medicine used to treat asthma)

SYNOPSIS

MORE INFORMATION

Store below 20-25°C and keep out of reach of children.

FAQs ABOUT FOLITRAX 25MG

Can FOLITRAX 25MG be given to pregnant women?

No. This medicine can cause birth defects, harm the unborn child or cause miscarriage. So, it should not be given to pregnant women unless necessary.

Can FOLITRAX 25MG be given to children?

Yes. This medicine should be used with caution in children. Special care is required.

REFERENCES

1. KD. Tripathi. Anticancer drugs. Immunosuppressant drugs. Essentials of medical pharmacology. Seventh edition. 2013. Page – 862-863, 882-883.

2. Bruce. A. Chabner, Joseph Bertino, James Cleary, Taylor Ortiz, Andrew Lane, Jeffery G. Supko and David Ryan. Cytotoxic Agents. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological basics of Therapeutics. 12th Edition. New York McGraw Hill Medical 2011. Page –1820-1821.

3. Craig Burkhart, Dean Morrell and Lowell Goldsmith. Dermatological pharmacology. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological basics of Therapeutics. 12th Edition. New York McGraw Hill Medical 2011. Page – 1820-1821.

4. Gerald G. Briggs and Roger K. Freeman. M. A reference guide to fetal and neonatal risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. Tenth Edition. 2015. Page – 2492-2501.

5. Antares Pharma Inc. Exposure Study Comparing 3 Routes of Methotrexate (MTX) Administration. NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine ClinicalTrials.gov. [Revised on February 2014] [Accessed 23rd November 2020] https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01737944

6. Michael E. Weinblatt. Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Quarter Century of Development. NCBI; PMC US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health. 2013. [Accessed 23rd November 2020] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3715949/

7. Hospira Australia Pty Ltd. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC); [Revised on January 2020] [Accessed 23rd November 2020] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.6756.pdf

8. Hospira Australia Pty Ltd. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC); [Revised on January 2020] [Accessed 23rd November 2020] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.1404.pdf