methotrexate

methotrexate
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Name	Methotrexate

Methotrexate is an antimetabolite and immunosuppressant medication used to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases, and ectopic pregnancy. It works by inhibiting the metabolism of folic acid, which is essential for the growth and proliferation of cells. Methotrexate is used to treat a variety of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and certain types of cancer, such as leukemia and lymphoma. It is also used to treat ectopic pregnancy and trophoblastic neoplasm.

Medical uses

Methotrexate is used to treat a range of medical conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriasis, and certain types of cancer, such as acute lymphocytic leukemia, breast cancer, and lung cancer. It is also used to treat ectopic pregnancy and trophoblastic neoplasm. In rheumatology, methotrexate is often used as a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) to slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis.

Methotrexate is also used to treat psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis, and is often used in combination with other medications, such as biologics, to treat these conditions. In oncology, methotrexate is used to treat a variety of cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancer.

Adverse effects

The most common adverse effects of methotrexate include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. Methotrexate can also cause myelosuppression, which can lead to anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Other adverse effects of methotrexate include hepatic toxicity, pulmonary toxicity, and renal toxicity.

Methotrexate can also cause teratogenic effects, and is therefore contraindicated in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Women of childbearing age who are taking methotrexate must use contraception to prevent pregnancy.

Pharmacology

Methotrexate works by inhibiting the metabolism of folic acid, which is essential for the growth and proliferation of cells. Methotrexate binds to the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), which is necessary for the synthesis of tetrahydrofolate (THF). THF is essential for the synthesis of DNA and RNA, and is therefore necessary for the growth and proliferation of cells.

Methotrexate is bioavailable when taken orally, and is metabolized by the liver and kidneys. The half-life of methotrexate is approximately 3-10 hours, and it is excreted in the urine.

History

Methotrexate was first synthesized in the 1940s by Hermann M. Kalckar and David A. Karnofsky, and was initially used to treat cancer. In the 1960s, methotrexate was used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, and it has since become a widely used DMARD.

The development of methotrexate as a treatment for cancer and autoimmune diseases has had a significant impact on the medical field, and has led to the development of other antimetabolite and immunosuppressant medications.

Society and culture

Methotrexate has had a significant impact on society and culture, particularly in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer. The use of methotrexate has improved the quality of life for many people with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and other autoimmune diseases.

Methotrexate has also been recognized as one of the essential medicines by the World Health Organization (WHO), and is included on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines. The use of methotrexate has also been patented by several pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and Merck. Category:Immunosuppressants Category:Antimetabolites Category:Cancer treatments Category:Autoimmune diseases Category:Rheumatology