Methoblastin

Country: Australia

Language: English

Source: Department of Health (Therapeutic Goods Administration)

Active ingredient:

Methotrexate

Available from:

Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd

Class:

Medicine Registered

Patient Information leaflet

METHOBLASTIN
®
TABLETS

_Methotrexate_
CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION

WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET
PLEASE READ THIS LEAFLET CAREFULLY
BEFORE YOU START TAKING
METHOBLASTIN.
This leaflet answers some common
questions about METHOBLASTIN.
It does not contain all the available
information and it does not take the
place of talking to your doctor or
pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and
benefits. Your doctor has weighed
the risks of you taking
METHOBLASTIN against the
expected benefits it will have for
you.
IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT
TAKING THIS MEDICINE, ASK YOUR
DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST.
KEEP THIS LEAFLET WITH THE MEDICINE.
You may need to read it again.
WHAT METHOBLASTIN
TABLETS ARE USED FOR
METHOBLASTIN is used to treat
severe psoriasis (a skin condition)
and severe rheumatoid arthritis. It is
only used to treat these conditions if
other treatments have not worked.
It is also used to treat some types of
cancers.
The medicine contains methotrexate,
which belongs to a family of
medicines called antimetabolites. It
may also be called a chemotherapy
medicine.
The medicine works by blocking an
enzyme needed by the body cells to
live. This interferes with the growth
of some cells that are growing
rapidly in psoriasis and cancer. In
rheumatoid arthritis, this medicine
reduces the overactivity of the
immune system leading to less pain,
swelling and damage to the joints.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THIS MEDICINE
HAS BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR YOU.
Your doctor may have prescribed it
for another reason.
This medicine is not addictive.
It is only available with a doctor's
prescription.

BEFORE YOU TAKE
METHOBLASTIN
TABLETS
_WHEN YOU MUST NOT TAKE IT_
DO NOT TAKE METHOBLASTIN IF
YOU HAVE AN ALLERGY TO:
•
any medicine containing
methotrexate
•
any of the ingredients listed at the
end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic
reaction may include:
•
shortness of breath
•
wheezing or difficulty breathing
•
swelling of the face, lips, tongue
or other parts of the body
•
rash, it

Summary of Product characteristics

PRODUCT INFORMATION 
METHOBLASTIN TABLETS
®
 2.5 MG AND 10 MG 
WARNING 
Methotrexate must be used only by physicians experienced in
antimetabolite chemotherapy, 
or in the case of non-oncological conditions, by a specialist
physician. 
Because of the possibility of fatal or severe toxic reactions the
patient should be fully 
informed by the physician of the risks involved and should be under
his constant supervision. 
Deaths have been reported with the use of methotrexate. 
In the treatment of psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, methotrexate
should be restricted to 
severe, recalcitrant, disabling disease which is not adequately
responsive to other forms of 
therapy, but only when the diagnosis has been established by biopsy
and / or after appropriate 
consultation. 
1.  Methotrexate may produce marked depression of bone marrow,
anaemia, aplastic 
anaemia, leucopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and bleeding. 
2.  Methotrexate may be hepatotoxic, particularly at high dosage or
with prolonged 
therapy.  Liver atrophy, necrosis, cirrhosis, fatty changes and
periportal fibrosis have 
been reported.  Since changes may occur without previous signs of
gastrointestinal or 
haematological toxicity, it is imperative that hepatic function be
determined prior to 
initiation of treatment and monitored regularly throughout therapy.
 Special caution is 
indicated in the presence of pre-existing liver damage or impaired
hepatic function.  
Concomitant use of other drugs with hepatotoxic potential (including
alcohol) should 
be avoided. 
3.  Malignant lymphomas, which may regress following withdrawal of
methotrexate, may 
occur in patients receiving low-dose methotrexate and, thus, may not
require cytotoxic 
treatment.  Discontinue methotrexate first and, if the lymphoma does
not regress, 
appropriate treatment should be instituted. 
4.  Potentially fatal opportunistic infections,
especially _Pneumocystis carinii_ pneumonia, 
may occur with methotrexate therapy. 
5.  Methotrex