Drug Interactions between budesonide and methotrexate

Caffeine may reduce the effectiveness of methotrexate in the treatment of arthritis. If you are receiving methotrexate for arthritis, you may want to limit your intake of caffeine-containing foods and medications. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns or are uncertain what products may contain caffeine.

You should avoid the regular consumption of large amounts of grapefruits and grapefruit juice while taking budesonide. Grapefruit can raise the levels of budesonide in your body and lead to increased side effects. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Methotrexate may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as ethanol (alcohol) may increase that risk. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications. Call your doctor immediately if you have fever, chills, joint pain or swelling, unusual bleeding or bruising, skin rash, itching, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, pale stools, and/or yellowing of the skin or eyes, as these may be signs and symptoms of liver damage. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Caffeine may reduce the effectiveness of methotrexate in the treatment of arthritis. If you are receiving methotrexate for arthritis, you may want to limit your intake of caffeine-containing foods and products. Contact your doctor if your symptoms worsen or your condition changes during treatment with these medications. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

The use of methotrexate is contraindicated as treatment for psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis in patients with alcoholism, alcoholic liver disease or other chronic liver diseases. Methotrexate causes hepatotoxicity, fibrosis and cirrhosis, usually after long-term therapy. Fibrosis and cirrhosis may not be preceded by symptoms or abnormal liver function tests. If methotrexate is used, patients should be instructed to immediately report any signs or symptoms suggestive of hepatic dysfunction such as jaundice, dark urine, right upper quadrant pain, or anorexia. Persistent liver function test abnormalities and/or depression of serum albumin may require evaluation, including a liver biopsy.

Methotrexate can induce myelosuppression causing leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, pancytopenia and anemia. Therapy with methotrexate is contraindicated as treatment of psoriasis in patients with bone marrow suppression or preexisting blood dyscrasias. Methotrexate should be discontinued immediately in patients with psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis if there is a significant fall in blood cell counts. If need outweighs risk, therapy with methotrexate should be administered cautiously in patients with malignancy and hematopoietic impairment. Additionally, methotrexate should be used with extreme caution in patients with active infection, and it is usually contraindicated in patients with overt or laboratory evidence of immunodeficiency syndromes. Patients should be instructed to immediately report any signs or symptoms suggesting bone marrow suppression or infection such as fever, sore throat, or bleeding. Clinical monitoring of hematopoietic function is recommended.

Methotrexate can induce myelosuppression causing leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, pancytopenia and anemia. Therapy with methotrexate is contraindicated as treatment of psoriasis in patients with bone marrow suppression or preexisting blood dyscrasias. Methotrexate should be discontinued immediately in patients with psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis if there is a significant fall in blood cell counts. If need outweighs risk, therapy with methotrexate should be administered cautiously in patients with malignancy and hematopoietic impairment. Additionally, methotrexate should be used with extreme caution in patients with active infection, and it is usually contraindicated in patients with overt or laboratory evidence of immunodeficiency syndromes. Patients should be instructed to immediately report any signs or symptoms suggesting bone marrow suppression or infection such as fever, sore throat, or bleeding. Clinical monitoring of hematopoietic function is recommended.

Methotrexate induces stomatitis within the oral mucosa and gastrointestinal tract. Therapy with methotrexate should be administered with extreme caution in patients with peptic ulcer disease or ulcerative colitis. If vomiting, diarrhea or ulcerative stomatitis occur, treatment should be discontinued until recovery to avoid the risk of hemorraghic enteritis or intestinal perforation which could be fatal.

Because of their cytotoxic effects on rapidly proliferating tissues, antineoplastic agents frequently can, to varying extent, induce myelosuppression. The use of these drugs may be contraindicated in patients with known infectious diseases. All patients should be instructed to immediately report any signs or symptoms suggesting infection such as fever, sore throat, or local infection during antineoplastic therapy. Close clinical monitoring of hematopoietic function is recommended.

Methotrexate can induce myelosuppression causing leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, pancytopenia and anemia. Therapy with methotrexate is contraindicated as treatment of psoriasis in patients with bone marrow suppression or preexisting blood dyscrasias. Methotrexate should be discontinued immediately in patients with psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis if there is a significant fall in blood cell counts. If need outweighs risk, therapy with methotrexate should be administered cautiously in patients with malignancy and hematopoietic impairment. Additionally, methotrexate should be used with extreme caution in patients with active infection, and it is usually contraindicated in patients with overt or laboratory evidence of immunodeficiency syndromes. Patients should be instructed to immediately report any signs or symptoms suggesting bone marrow suppression or infection such as fever, sore throat, or bleeding. Clinical monitoring of hematopoietic function is recommended.

Methotrexate induces stomatitis within the oral mucosa and gastrointestinal tract. Therapy with methotrexate should be administered with extreme caution in patients with peptic ulcer disease or ulcerative colitis. If vomiting, diarrhea or ulcerative stomatitis occur, treatment should be discontinued until recovery to avoid the risk of hemorraghic enteritis or intestinal perforation which could be fatal.

The use of methotrexate is contraindicated as treatment for psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis in patients with alcoholism, alcoholic liver disease or other chronic liver diseases. Methotrexate causes hepatotoxicity, fibrosis and cirrhosis, usually after long-term therapy. Fibrosis and cirrhosis may not be preceded by symptoms or abnormal liver function tests. If methotrexate is used, patients should be instructed to immediately report any signs or symptoms suggestive of hepatic dysfunction such as jaundice, dark urine, right upper quadrant pain, or anorexia. Persistent liver function test abnormalities and/or depression of serum albumin may require evaluation, including a liver biopsy.

Methotrexate induces stomatitis within the oral mucosa and gastrointestinal tract. Therapy with methotrexate should be administered with extreme caution in patients with peptic ulcer disease or ulcerative colitis. If vomiting, diarrhea or ulcerative stomatitis occur, treatment should be discontinued until recovery to avoid the risk of hemorraghic enteritis or intestinal perforation which could be fatal.

Methotrexate is primarily eliminated by the kidney via glomerular filtration and active secretion. Clearance rates for methotrexate vary and at higher doses are generally decreased due to saturation of renal tubular reabsorption. Renal impairment or third space effusion (ascites, pleural effusions), decrease elimination and increase methotrexate serum concentrations. Therapy with methotrexate should be administered cautiously and at reduced dosages in patients with compromised renal function. Administration of leucovorin reduces toxicity from high dose methotrexate regimens or delayed elimination. Clinical monitoring of renal function is recommended.

Methotrexate is primarily eliminated by the kidney via glomerular filtration and active secretion. Clearance rates for methotrexate vary and at higher doses are generally decreased due to saturation of renal tubular reabsorption. Renal impairment or third space effusion (ascites, pleural effusions), decrease elimination and increase methotrexate serum concentrations. Therapy with methotrexate should be administered cautiously and at reduced dosages in patients with compromised renal function. Administration of leucovorin reduces toxicity from high dose methotrexate regimens or delayed elimination. Clinical monitoring of renal function is recommended.

Prolonged use of corticosteroids may cause posterior subcapsular cataracts and elevated intraocular pressure, the latter of which may lead to glaucoma and/or damage to the optic nerves. Therapy with corticosteroids should be administered cautiously nonetheless in patients with a history of cataracts, glaucoma, or increased intraocular pressure. Although adverse effects of corticosteroids may be minimized by local rather than systemic administration, the risks are not entirely abolished. Inhaled and nasally applied drug may be absorbed into the circulation, especially when large doses are used. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used.

Prolonged use of corticosteroids may cause posterior subcapsular cataracts and elevated intraocular pressure, the latter of which may lead to glaucoma and/or damage to the optic nerves. Therapy with corticosteroids should be administered cautiously nonetheless in patients with a history of cataracts, glaucoma, or increased intraocular pressure. Although adverse effects of corticosteroids may be minimized by local rather than systemic administration, the risks are not entirely abolished. Inhaled and nasally applied drug may be absorbed into the circulation, especially when large doses are used. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used.

The use of corticosteroids may rarely precipitate or aggravate conditions of hyperadrenocorticism. Although adverse effects of corticosteroids may be minimized by local rather than systemic administration, the risks are not entirely abolished. Inhaled and nasally applied drug may be absorbed into the circulation, especially when large doses are used. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used. The development of symptoms such as menstrual irregularities, acneiform lesions, cataracts and cushingoid features during inhaled or nasal corticosteroid therapy may indicate excessive use.

The immunosuppressant and anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids, particularly in higher dosages, may decrease host resistance to infectious agents, decrease the ability to localize infections, and mask the symptoms of infection. Secondary infections may be more likely to develop. Therapy with corticosteroids should be administered cautiously in patients with an infection, particularly active or quiescent tuberculosis or in hepatitis B carriers. Monitor patients for any new or worsening infection and use with caution in these patients. A serious or even fatal course of chickenpox and measles can occur in susceptible patients. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used.

Some inhaled corticosteroid formulations contain lactose and may cause adverse reactions including cough, wheezing and bronchospasm in patients with severe milk protein allergy or intolerance. Caution is advised.

Corticosteroids are predominantly cleared by hepatic metabolism and impairment of the liver function may lead to their accumulation. Patients with hepatic disease should be closely monitored.

Pharmacologic dosages of corticosteroids may increase the risk of corneal perforation in patients with ocular herpes simplex. Therapy with inhaled and nasal corticosteroids should be administered cautiously in such patients.

Prolonged use of inhaled corticosteroids may be associated with a reduction in bone density. This effect appears to be dose-related and has been reported primarily with high dosages (800 mcg/day or more of beclomethasone or equivalent for 1 year or greater). Reduced levels of total body calcium have also been demonstrated in patients receiving lower dosages. Long-term therapy with inhaled and nasal corticosteroids should be administered cautiously in patients with osteoporosis. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used.

The immunosuppressant and anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids, particularly in higher dosages, may decrease host resistance to infectious agents, decrease the ability to localize infections, and mask the symptoms of infection. Secondary infections may be more likely to develop. Therapy with corticosteroids should be administered cautiously in patients with an infection, particularly active or quiescent tuberculosis or in hepatitis B carriers. Monitor patients for any new or worsening infection and use with caution in these patients. A serious or even fatal course of chickenpox and measles can occur in susceptible patients. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used.