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Methotrexate

Posted , 7 users are following.

mariemb
mariemb

I have just been prescribed 10 mg Methotrexate weekly. I was prescribed 24 tablets and took my first one last Friday.  I have not been feeling so well this week and put it down to the new medication.  However, when I went to take my 2nd one this Friday I noted that 4 tablets had already been taken.  I realised that I must have taken 3 Methotrexate instead of 3 mg of Prednisolone one morning this week.  Is this a big enough overdose to worry about.  I have had stomach pains and headaches so far.

1 like, 18 replies

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  • EileenH
    EileenH mariemb

    Posted

    "MTX toxicity has not been described following acute oral overdose. Patients who ingest more than 500 mg in adults or more than 5 mg/kg in children should be referred for further assessment.

    Acute ingestions by adults of greater than 500 mg are extremely unusual, as this is the dose contained in one full bottle. Similarly, accidental paediatric ingestion of more than 20-30 mg is rare. Parenteral MTX doses of less than 2 mg/kg are not usually associated with toxicity and is likely that the poor bioavailabily following oral administration, especially following overdose, affords greater protection."

    Which means: If you weigh 70kg and take a dose that is less than 140mg you are unlikely to suffer toxic effects. 70kg is 11st.

    If you did take a lot more then there is an antidote, folic acid, the stuff you take to prevent too bad side-effects anyway - but you would need to go to A&E to get it by infusion probably. If you go within a couple of hours they give you charcoal.

    • mariemb
      mariemb EileenH

      Posted

      Thank you.  I did fret when I thought I had taken the tablets in error but hoped that the dosage was too small to worry about which is why I thought it best to post my query and not bother out of hours services.  Although I have not contributed here at all in the past I have been following various discussions for quite a long time and have gained so much more information than through any doctor or specialist.  I have had PMR for the past 3.5 years and have benefited from the advice to reduce slowly.  This is my second attempt but I have managed to get down again to 3 mg per day. I am so grateful to people like yourself for sharing your knowledge.
  • thedawesgang
    thedawesgang mariemb

    Posted

    do you take folic acid aswell,it may be wise to take one for a few days thereafter...speak to your local dept that prescribed them,but 3 tabs extra should not do any damage
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