Methotrexate (Trexall) is mostly used to treat severe skin ailments, cancer, and various forms of rheumatoid arthritis. It is a drug available also in a generic way. The main side effects of the drug on the patient include; upset stomach, inflamed lips and mouth, headache, blurred vision, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, and bleeding gums. Critical side effects of the drug may also include fever, body aches, diarrhea, dry cough, flu symptoms, and shortness of breath ( Tefferi 2016) . Other risky signs may also include chills, white patches inside the mouth, blood in the patient’s urine, sore throat, stomach pains, weaknesses, pale skin, yellowing of the eyes or skin, and colored stool. Other toxic effects may be manifested by enteritis, ulcerations, pharyngitis, glossitis, and gingivitis.
For patients taking high dosage, the side effect may be very critical. Accordinng to Tefferi (2016) t he side effects are not limited to the above only. Tefferi (2016) adds that o ther side effects may appear briefly and disappear or may remain hidden from view or detection. Some of the consequences may be mild and may pass off as minor ailments. However, some of the toxic effects can be reversed. Folonic acid or Folic acid can be used to reduce the toxic effects of the drug. However, it is essential to consider that the supplementation may consist of other benefits associated with cardiovascular prevention since it can prevent induced MTX hyperhomocysteinemia.
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Folic acid should be continued over a long period to avoid MTX discontinuation as a result of its adverse side effects. For example, a low dosage of the acid is often linked to folate deficiency or folate antagonism. For example, Tefferi (2016) elaborates that folate supplementation is used together with MTX to reduce the toxic effects such as bone marrow toxicity and abnormal liver diagnosis. Other medications that may be used include prophylactic folate supplementation.
Reference
Tefferi, A. (2016). Myeloproliferative neoplasms: a decade of discoveries and treatment advances. American journal of hematology , 91 (1), 50-58.
