Rheumatrex (Methotrexate) for Spondylitis

Overview
Rheumatrex is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat severe cases of psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and some types of cancer. Rheumatrex is also referred to by its drug name, Methotrexate. Methotrexate is sometimes prescribed off-label to treat spondylitis. A 2013 review concluded that there is not enough evidence that Methotrexate provides benefits for people with spondylitis. Methotrexate does not improve symptoms in cases of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and is not recommended. However, combining Methotrexate and Adalimumab (Humira) has been associated with long-term maintenance in axSpA.

Rheumatrex is an immunomodulator, or drug that modifies the immune system. Rheumatrex is a type of disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). Rheumatrex is believed to suppress the immune system in several ways, reducing the activity of T cells, B cells, interleukins, and enzymes that play a role in autoimmune attacks.

How do I take it?
Rheumatrex is generally prescribed to be taken once or twice each week.

Rheumatrex comes in tablet form.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Rheumatrex lists common side effects including dizziness, malaise, fatigue, chills, fever, nausea, abdominal pain, infections, mouth sores, and leukopenia (decreased white blood cells).

Rare but serious side effects listed for Rheumatrex include toxic reactions, severe infections and blood disorders, birth defects, seizures, and damage to liver, lungs, or kidneys.

For answers to frequently asked questions about exposure to Methotrexate during pregnancy and breastfeeding, visit the experts at MothertoBaby.org.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Rheumatrex – RxList
http://www.rxlist.com/rheumatrex-drug.htm

Medications Used to Treat Ankylosing Spondylitis and Related Diseases – Spondylitis Association of America
http://www.spondylitis.org/Medications

Methotrexate for ankylosing spondylitis - Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.100...

Methotrexate Lowers Immunogenicity to Adalimumab in Axial Spondyloarthritis - Rheumatology Network
https://www.rheumatologynetwork.com/spondyloart...