Methotrexate (Page 5 of 7)

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS

7.1 Effects of Other Drugs on Methotrexate

Drugs that Increase Methotrexate Exposure

Coadministration of methotrexate with the following products may increase methotrexate plasma concentrations, which may increase the risk of methotrexate severe adverse reactions. In some cases, the coadministration of methotrexate with these products may also subsequently reduce active metabolite formation, which may decrease the clinical effectiveness of methotrexate. Increased organ specific adverse reactions may also occur when methotrexate is coadministered with hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic products.

If coadministration cannot be avoided, monitor closely for methotrexate adverse reactions when coadministered with:

  • Oral antibiotics (including neomycin)
  • Antifolate drugs (e.g., dapsone, pemetrexed, pyrimethamine and sulfonamides)
  • Oral or intravenous penicillin or sulfonamide antibiotics
  • Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Highly protein-bound drugs (e.g., oral anticoagulants, phenytoin, salicylates, sulfonamides, sulfonylureas, and tetracyclines)
  • Hepatotoxic products
  • Proton pump inhibitors
  • Weak acids (e.g., salicylates)
  • Nephrotoxic products
  • Probenecid

Nitrous Oxide

Coadministration of methotrexate with nitrous oxide anesthesia potentiates the effect of methotrexate on folate-dependent metabolic pathways, which may increase the risk of severe methotrexate adverse reactions. Avoid nitrous oxide anesthesia in patients receiving methotrexate. Consider alternative therapies in patients who have received prior nitrous oxide anesthesia.

Folic Acid

Coadministration of methotrexate with folic acid or its derivatives decreases the clinical effectiveness of methotrexate in patients with neoplastic diseases. Methotrexate competes with reduced folates for active transport across cell membranes. Instruct patients to take folic or folinic acid only as directed by their healthcare provider [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.10)].

8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

8.1 Pregnancy

Risk Summary

Methotrexate Tablets is contraindicated in pregnant women with non-neoplastic diseases [see Contraindications ( 4)] .

Based on published reports and its mechanism of action [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.1)] , methotrexate can cause embryo-fetal toxicity and fetal death when administered to a pregnant woman. There are no animal data that meet current standards for nonclinical developmental toxicity studies. Advise pregnant women with neoplastic diseases of the potential risk to a fetus.

In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.

Data

Human Data

Published data from case reports, literature reviews, and observational studies report that methotrexate exposure during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of embryo-fetal toxicity and fetal death. Methotrexate exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased incidence of spontaneous abortions and multiple adverse developmental outcomes, including skull anomalies, facial dysmorphism, central nervous system abnormalities, limb abnormalities, and sometimes cardiac anomalies and intellectual impairment. Adverse outcomes associated with exposure during second and third trimesters of pregnancy include intrauterine growth restriction and functional abnormalities. Because methotrexate is widely distributed and persists in the body for a prolonged period, there is a potential risk to the fetus from preconception methotrexate exposure.

A prospective multicenter study evaluated pregnancy outcomes in women taking methotrexate less than or equal to 30 mg/week after conception. The rate of spontaneous abortion and miscarriage in pregnant women exposed to methotrexate was 42% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 29, 59), which was higher than in unexposed patients with autoimmune disease (22%; 95% CI: 17, 30) and unexposed patients with non-autoimmune disease (17%; 95% CI: 13, 23). Of the live births, the rate of major birth defects in pregnant women exposed to methotrexate after conception was higher than in unexposed patients with autoimmune disease (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.8 [95% CI: 0.6, 6]) and unexposed patients with non-autoimmune disease (adjusted OR 3.1 [95% CI: 1, 10]) (2.9%). Major birth defects associated with pregnancies exposed to methotrexate after conception were not always consistent with methotrexate-associated adverse developmental outcomes.

8.2 Lactation

Risk Summary

Limited published literature report the presence of methotrexate in human milk in low amounts, with the highest breast milk to plasma concentration ratio reported to be 0.08:1. There are no data on the effects of methotrexate or its metabolites on the breastfed child or their effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in a breastfed child, instruct women not to breastfeed during treatment with Methotrexate Tablets and for 1 week after the final dose.

8.3 Females and Males of Reproductive Potential

Methotrexate can cause malformations and fetal death at doses less than or equal to the recommended clinical doses [Use in Specific Populations ( 8.1)].

Pregnancy Testing

Verify the pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to initiating Methotrexate Tablets [see Contraindications ( 4), Use in Specific Populations ( 8.1)].

Contraception

Females

Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Methotrexate Tablets and for 6 months after the final dose.

Males

Methotrexate can cause chromosomal damage to sperm cells. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Methotrexate Tablets and for
3 months after the final dose.

Infertility

Females

Based on published reports of female infertility after methotrexate, advise females of reproductive potential that methotrexate can cause impairment of fertility and menstrual dysfunction during treatment with Methotrexate Tablets and after the final dose. It is not known if the infertility may be reversed in all affected females.

Males

Based on published reports of male infertility after methotrexate, advise males that methotrexate can cause oligospermia or infertility during treatment with Methotrexate Tablets and after the final dose. It is not known if the infertility may be reversed in all affected males.

8.4 Pediatric Use

The safety and effectiveness of Methotrexate Tablets in pediatric patients have been established for the treatment of ALL as part of the combination chemotherapy maintenance regimen and the treatment of pJIA [see Indications and Usage ( 1), Dosage and Administration ( 2)]. No new safety signals have been observed in pediatric patients in clinical studies [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1)].

The safety and effectiveness of Methotrexate Tablets have not been established in pediatric patients for the other indications [see Indications and Usage ( 1)].

8.5 Geriatric Use

Clinical studies of methotrexate did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects.

8.6 Renal Impairment

Methotrexate elimination is reduced in patients with renal impairment [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3)]. Patients with renal impairment are at increased risk for methotrexate adverse reactions. Closely monitor patients with renal impairment [creatinine clearance (CLcr) less than 90 mL/min, Cockcroft-Gault] for adverse reactions. Reduce the dosage or discontinue Methotrexate Tablets as appropriate [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8)].

8.7 Hepatic Impairment

The pharmacokinetics and safety of methotrexate in patients with hepatic impairment is unknown. Patients with hepatic impairment may be at increased risk for methotrexate adverse reactions based on the elimination characteristics of methotrexate [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3)]. Closely monitor patients with hepatic impairment for adverse reactions. Reduce the dosage or discontinue Methotrexate Tablets as appropriate [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5)].

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