Comparing Methotrexate vs Plaquenil

View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
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Methotrexate

Plaquenil hydroxychloroquine

Methotrexate may be considered for the treatment of psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis if other treatments have failed. It may also be used in certain cancers. Side effects can be severe and... View more

Prescribed for Lyme Disease - Arthritis, Dermatomyositis, Malaria Prevention, Malaria, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. May also be prescribed off label for Sjogren's Syndrome... View more

Prescription only

Ratings & Reviews

View all 257 reviews

View all 148 reviews

Drug Class

Side Effects

Commonly reported side effects include: increased liver enzymes.

See the full methotrexate side effects document.

See the full Plaquenil side effects document.

Pricing and Coupons

* Prices are without insurance

Quantity	20 each
Dosage	2.5 mg
Per Unit^*	$2.69
Cost^*	$53.89

View all methotrexate prices

Quantity	100 tablet
Dosage	200 mg
Per Unit^*	$11.62
Cost^*	$1,161.57

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Generic Availability

Yes (this medicine)

Yes

Dosage Form(s) Available

Injectable powder for injection
Injectable solution
Oral tablet

Oral tablet

Brand Names

Methotrexate LPF Sodium, Otrexup, Rasuvo, RediTrex, Trexall, Xatmep

N/A

Half Life

The half-life of a drug is the time taken for the plasma concentration of a drug to reduce to half its original value.

12 hours

N/A

CSA Schedule**

View glossary of terms.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Pregnancy Category

Category X Not for use in pregnancy

See the full Pregnancy Warnings document.

Category N Not classified

See the full Pregnancy Warnings document.

Drug Interactions

A total of 605 drugs are known to interact with methotrexate:

123 major drug interactions (598 brand and generic names)
466 moderate drug interactions (2464 brand and generic names)
16 minor drug interactions (49 brand and generic names)

A total of 436 drugs are known to interact with Plaquenil:

181 major drug interactions (542 brand and generic names)
251 moderate drug interactions (971 brand and generic names)
4 minor drug interactions (20 brand and generic names)

Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions

Caffeine may reduce the effectiveness of methotrexate in the treatment of arthritis. If you are... View more
Methotrexate may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the... View more

You may want to limit your consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit juice during treatment with... View more

Disease Interactions

First Approval Date

December 07, 1953

April 18, 1955

WADA Class

View World Anti-Doping Agency classifications.

N/A

More Information

Consumer Resources

Advanced Reading

Professional Resources

Prescribing Information

Related Treatment Guide

** The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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