Methotrexate
Methotrexate EVER Pharma contains the active substance methotrexate, which works by:
Methotrexate EVER Pharma is used to treat:
Methotrexate EVER Pharma, used to treat rheumatic diseases or skin diseases, should only be administered once a week. Dosage errors during methotrexate treatment can cause severe side effects, including death. You should read section 3 of this leaflet very carefully. If you have any questions, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine. Before starting treatment with Methotrexate EVER Pharma, you should discuss it with your doctor if:
If the patient, their partner, or caregiver notices new onset or worsening of neurological symptoms, including general muscle weakness, vision disturbances, changes in thinking, memory, and orientation leading to disorientation and personality changes, they should contact their doctor immediately, as these may be symptoms of a very rare, serious brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Methotrexate temporarily affects sperm production and ovulation. Methotrexate may cause miscarriage and severe birth defects in the fetus. Women should avoid becoming pregnant while taking methotrexate and for at least six months after treatment. Men should avoid fathering a child while being treated with methotrexate and for at least three months after treatment. See also "Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility". During treatment with Methotrexate EVER Pharma, there may be a recurrence of radiation-induced skin inflammation or sunburn. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation during treatment with Methotrexate EVER Pharma may exacerbate psoriatic skin lesions. During methotrexate treatment, cases of acute pulmonary bleeding have been reported in patients with underlying rheumatologic disease. If the patient experiences hemoptysis, they should consult their doctor immediately. Diarrhea is a side effect of Methotrexate EVER Pharma that may require discontinuation of treatment. If diarrhea occurs, the patient should consult their doctor. In patients receiving low doses of methotrexate, lymph node enlargement (lymphoma) may occur. In such cases, treatment should be discontinued. Recommended tests and precautions Even with low doses of methotrexate, severe side effects may occur. To detect these effects early, the doctor must perform regular checks and laboratory tests. Before starting treatment:
During treatment: The doctor may recommend the following tests:
It is very important for the patient to attend all scheduled blood tests. If the results of any of these tests are abnormal, the doctor will adjust the treatment accordingly.
Methotrexate EVER Pharma is not recommended for use in children under 3 years of age due to insufficient experience with the use of the medicine in this age group. During treatment with Methotrexate EVER Pharma, children, adolescents, and the elderly should be under close medical supervision to detect any potential side effects as early as possible. In the elderly, a relatively low dose of methotrexate should be used due to decreased liver and kidney function and lower folate reserves that occur with age.
The patient should tell their doctor or pharmacist about all medicines they are currently taking or have recently taken, as well as any medicines they plan to take, including those available without a prescription, herbal medicines, and dietary supplements, such as vitamins. It is especially important to inform the doctor about the use of:
During treatment with Methotrexate EVER Pharma, the patient should not drink alcohol and should also avoid consuming excessive amounts of coffee, caffeinated beverages, and black tea, as they may increase the side effects or affect the efficacy of Methotrexate EVER Pharma. During treatment with Methotrexate EVER Pharma, the patient should drink plenty of fluids, as dehydration (reduced water content in the body) may increase the toxic effects of Methotrexate EVER Pharma.
If the patient is pregnant or breastfeeding, or thinks they may be pregnant, or is planning to have a baby, they should consult their doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine. Pregnancy Do not use Methotrexate EVER Pharma if the patient is pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Methotrexate may cause birth defects, harm the unborn baby, or cause miscarriage. It may cause skull, face, heart, blood vessels, brain, and limb defects. Therefore, it is very important not to use methotrexate in pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant. In women of childbearing age, pregnancy should be ruled out before starting treatment, e.g., by performing a pregnancy test. The patient should avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with methotrexate and for at least six months after treatment. During this time, effective methods of preventing pregnancy should be used (see also "Warnings and precautions"). If the woman becomes pregnant during treatment or thinks she may be pregnant, she should consult her doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will advise the patient on the risk associated with the treatment. If the patient is planning to become pregnant, the treating doctor may refer her to a specialist for consultation before the planned start of treatment. Breastfeeding Do not breastfeed while being treated with methotrexate, as it passes into breast milk. If the treating doctor considers methotrexate treatment essential at this time, breastfeeding should be discontinued. Male fertility Available data do not indicate an increased risk of birth defects or miscarriage when the father is taking methotrexate at doses less than 30 mg per week. However, this risk cannot be entirely ruled out. Methotrexate may have genotoxic effects, meaning it may cause genetic changes. Methotrexate may affect sperm production, potentially causing birth defects. Therefore, patients treated with methotrexate should avoid fathering a child or donating sperm during treatment and for at least three months after treatment.
During treatment with Methotrexate EVER Pharma, side effects such as fatigue and dizziness may occur, which may affect the ability to drive or operate machinery. If the patient feels tired or dizzy, they should not drive or operate machinery.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) of sodium per pre-filled syringe, which means it is considered "sodium-free".
In the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, active juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and psoriasis, Methotrexate EVER Pharma should be used only once a week. Using more Methotrexate EVER Pharma than prescribed may result in death. You should read section 3 of this leaflet very carefully. If you have any questions, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine. This medicine should always be used as directed by the doctor. If you are unsure, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist. Methotrexate EVER Pharma is administered only once a week. Together with the doctor, you should choose a suitable day of the week for the injection. Incorrect use of Methotrexate EVER Pharma may lead to severe side effects, which may be fatal. The recommended dose is: Dosing in patients with rheumatoid arthritis The recommended initial dose is 7.5 mg of methotrexate once a week. If the dose is not effective and the patient tolerates the medicine well, the doctor may increase the dose by 2.5 mg per week. The average weekly dose of methotrexate is 15-20 mg. In general, the weekly dose should not exceed 25 mg. After achieving the desired therapeutic effect, the doctor may gradually reduce the dose of Methotrexate EVER Pharma to the smallest effective maintenance dose. The expected response to treatment usually occurs after 4-8 weeks of treatment. After discontinuing Methotrexate EVER Pharma, symptoms may return. Use in children and adolescents (aged 3 and older) with polyarticular forms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis The doctor will calculate the required dose based on the child's body surface area (m2). The dose is expressed as mg/m2. Methotrexate EVER Pharma is not recommended for use in children under 3 years of age due to insufficient experience in this age group. Adults with severe psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis The doctor will administer a single test dose of 2.5-5 mg to assess potential toxic effects. If the test dose is well tolerated, treatment will be continued after one week with a dose of approximately 7.5 mg (for an adult with an average body weight of 70 kg). In general, the weekly dose should not exceed 25 mg. After achieving the desired therapeutic effect, the doctor may gradually reduce the dose of Methotrexate EVER Pharma to the smallest effective maintenance dose. The expected response to treatment usually occurs after 2-6 weeks. Depending on the severity of symptoms and the results of blood and urine tests, treatment should be continued or discontinued. In the elderly, a relatively low dose of methotrexate should be used due to decreased liver and kidney function and lower folate reserves that occur with age. Method of administration and duration of treatment Methotrexate EVER Pharma is administered by subcutaneous injection. The medicine should be used once a week. It is recommended to perform injections of Methotrexate EVER Pharma on the same day of the week. Initially, the doctor or medical staff may administer the injection. However, the doctor may decide that the patient is able to administer the injection themselves. The patient will be properly trained in this regard. Never attempt to administer the injection yourself without prior training.
If you have difficulty handling the syringe, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist. Do not attempt to administer the injection yourself if you have not been properly trained on how to do it. If you are unsure, you should immediately contact your doctor or nurse.
The Methotrexate EVER Pharma pre-filled syringe has a needle protection system that prevents needlestick injury after use. The following instructions apply to pre-filled syringes with this system and may differ from instructions for other injection systems.
If there is liquid left in the syringe, it means that not all of the medicine has been injected properly, and you should consult a doctor.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not come into contact with Methotrexate EVER Pharma. The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis requires long-term use of Methotrexate EVER Pharma. If you feel that the effect of Methotrexate EVER Pharma is too strong or too weak, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.
You should use the dose recommended by your doctor. Do not change it without consulting your doctor. If you suspect that you have used more Methotrexate EVER Pharma than you should have, you should immediately contact a doctor or the emergency department of the nearest hospital. Patients who contact a doctor or hospital should bring the medicine packaging and leaflet with them. Methotrexate overdose can cause severe toxic reactions. Symptoms of overdose may include easy bruising or bleeding, unexplained weakness, mouth sores, nausea, vomiting, black or bloody stools, coughing up blood or vomiting coffee grounds, and decreased urine output. See also section 4.
You should not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. You should consult a doctor for advice.
You should not stop or discontinue treatment with Methotrexate EVER Pharma without consulting your doctor. If you suspect severe side effects, you should immediately consult a doctor. If you have any further doubts about using this medicine, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, Methotrexate EVER Pharma can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The frequency and severity of side effects depend on the dose and frequency of administration of the medicine. Since severe side effects may occur even with low doses, regular medical check-ups are necessary. The treating doctor should order tests to rule out abnormalities in blood parameters (e.g., low white blood cell count, low platelet count, and lymphoma) and changes in the liver and kidneys. You should immediately inform your doctorif you experience any of the following symptoms, as they may indicate severe, potentially life-threatening side effects that require immediate treatment:
Other side effects have also been reported:
Common(may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Uncommon(may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Rare(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
Very rare(may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
Unknown(frequency cannot be estimated from available data):
Subcutaneous administration of methotrexate is locally well tolerated. Only mild skin reactions (such as burning, redness, swelling, discoloration, severe itching, pain) have been observed after administration of Methotrexate EVER Pharma, which decrease during continued treatment.
If side effects occur, including any side effects not listed in this leaflet, you should tell your doctor or pharmacist. Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Drug Safety Monitoring of the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices, and Biocidal Products, Al. Jerozolimskie 181 C, 02-222 Warsaw, phone: +48 22 49 21 301, fax: +48 22 49 21 309, website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl. Side effects can also be reported to the marketing authorization holder. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
The medicine should be stored out of sight and reach of children. Do not store above 25°C. Do not store in the refrigerator or freeze. Store the pre-filled syringe in the outer packaging to protect it from light. Do not use this medicine after the expiration date stated on the label of the pre-filled syringe and the carton after: Expiration date (EXP). The expiration date refers to the last day of the month stated. Do not use this medicine if you notice that the syringe is damaged or if the solution is not clear and contains visible particles. Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. You should ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer needed. This will help protect the environment.
Methotrexate EVER Pharma, 7.5 mg Each pre-filled syringe with 0.3 mL of the solution for injection contains 7.5 mg of methotrexate. Methotrexate EVER Pharma, 10 mg Each pre-filled syringe with 0.4 mL of the solution for injection contains 10 mg of methotrexate. Methotrexate EVER Pharma, 12.5 mg Each pre-filled syringe with 0.5 mL of the solution for injection contains 12.5 mg of methotrexate. Methotrexate EVER Pharma, 15 mg Each pre-filled syringe with 0.6 mL of the solution for injection contains 15 mg of methotrexate. Methotrexate EVER Pharma, 17.5 mg Each pre-filled syringe with 0.7 mL of the solution for injection contains 17.5 mg of methotrexate. Methotrexate EVER Pharma, 20 mg Each pre-filled syringe with 0.8 mL of the solution for injection contains 20 mg of methotrexate. Methotrexate EVER Pharma, 22.5 mg Each pre-filled syringe with 0.9 mL of the solution for injection contains 22.5 mg of methotrexate. Methotrexate EVER Pharma, 25 mg Each pre-filled syringe with 1 mL of the solution for injection contains 25 mg of methotrexate.
Methotrexate EVER Pharma is available in 1 mL pre-filled syringes made of colorless glass (type I), with a fixed stainless steel needle, closed with a bromobutyl rubber stopper, and a needle protection system. The pre-filled syringes are equipped with a protection system that prevents needlestick injury after use. Blister pack made of PET foil. The following pack sizes are available in a single carton: 1 pre-filled syringe in a blister pack 4 pre-filled syringes in two double blister packs 12 pre-filled syringes in six double blister packs Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
EVER Valinject GmbH Oberburgau 3 4866 Unterach am Attersee Austria
EVER Pharma Jena GmbH Otto-Schott-Strasse 15 07745 Jena Germany
EVER Pharma Poland Sp. z o.o. e-mail: office.pl@everpharma.com
Germany: Methotrexat EVER Pharma 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 17.5 mg, 20 mg, 22.5 mg, 25 mg Injektionslösung in einer Fertigspritze Poland: Methotrexate EVER Pharma Czech Republic: Methotrexát EVER Pharma Slovakia: Metotrexát EVER Pharma 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 17.5 mg, 20 mg, 22.5 mg, 25 mg injekčný roztok vnaplnenej injekčnej striekačke
Date of last revision of the leaflet:21.07.2023
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