Why should I take folic acid with methotrexate?
You should take folic acid with methotrexate to help prevent a folate deficiency. Taking methotrexate can lower folate levels in your body and cause symptoms like extreme tiredness, mouth sores, confusion, pale color and weakness.
Folate occurs naturally as a B-9 vitamin and is an essential nutrient your body needs for cell metabolism and growth. You need folate to help with skin, hair and nail growth. Folic acid is a man-made form of this B vitamin available as an oral supplement. in a pill. Your doctor may prescribe folic acid to be taken with your methotrexate.
Folate is essential to good health so folic acid is also added to foods such as breakfast cereals, bread products, pasta and rice. Folate can be found in many non-fortified natural food sources like asparagus, beans or peas, oranges or spinach. Fortified foods have help to prevent folate deficiencies in many countries.
Methotrexate is a medicine that is commonly prescribed for people with rheumatoid arthritis, cancer or psoriasis.
What are the symptoms of folate deficiency?
Common symptoms of folate deficiency can include:
- tiredness or fatigue, lack of energy
- muscle weakness
- headache
- dizziness
- shortness of breath
- low blood cell counts
- neurological (nervous system) problems, like the feeling of pins and needles, tingling, or burning in your hands, arms or legs
- mental health problems such as depression, confusion, memory problems, and difficulty with judgement and understanding
- upset stomach (nausea, vomiting) or stomach pain
- diarrhea
- weight loss
What is methotrexate?
Methotrexate is a medicine used to treat a variety of conditions such as some types of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, severe psoriasis, or polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA). It is in a group of medicines known as antimetabolites.
- Methotrexate can be used to treat leukemia (cancer that begins in the white blood cells) and certain types of cancer of the breast, head and neck, lung, or uterus. Methotrexate treats cancer by slowing the growth of cancer cells.
- When used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, it is called a disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). Methotrexate treats rheumatoid arthritis by slowing down the activity of the immune system that can lead to inflammation and pain.
Methotrexate works by blocking an enzyme known as dihydrofolic acid reductase that is needed by cells for growth. Methotrexate interferes with DNA synthesis, repair, and cellular replication.
Related questions
- What does psoriasis look like?
- How do you get psoriasis and is it contagious?
- How does Tremfya work to treat plaque and psoriatic arthritis?
How does methotrexate come?
Methotrexate is available as an oral tablet, oral solution, and as an injection. You may only need to take it once per week, so be sure to follow your doctor's dosing instructions exactly. It comes as a generic option, in brand names and as a prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) product.
Medical uses vary by the brand names of methotrexate, which include:
Women should not take methotrexate if they are pregnant or breastfeeding. Both women and men should stop taking methotrexate one to three months prior to attempting to conceive a child. Do not stop treatment without talking to your doctor first.
To learn more about methotrexate warnings and side effects, review this drug information.
This is not all the information you need to know about methotrexate or folic acid for safe and effective use and does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your treatment. Review the full methotrexate and folic acid information, and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.
References
- Methotrexate [product monograph]. Drugs.com Accessed Apr 1, 2023 at https://www.drugs.com/pro/methotrexate-sodium.html
- Cohen S, et al. Patient education: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (Beyond the Basics). Up to Date. Dec. 2019. Accessed March 3, 2021 at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/disease-modifying-antirheumatic-drugs-dmards-in-rheumatoid-arthritis-beyond-the-basics
Read next
How does Ilumya work to treat psoriasis?
Ilumya works by binding selectively to interleukin-23 (IL-23) which is a naturally occurring cytokine. IL-23 plays a key role in promoting inflammation and regulating other cytokines (such as IL-17) and inflammatory substances, such as TNF-α3-7. By blocking the effects of IL-23, Ilumya helps control the release of IL-17 and TNF-α, which reduces inflammation associated with psoriasis. It also decreases how many inflammatory cells are present within psoriatic lesions, helps prevent plaque formation, and resolves tissue damage. Continue reading
Prednisone: What are 12 Things You Should Know?
Prednisone first came onto the market over sixty years ago and is still going strong. But did you know that this common drug used for a variety of different conditions also has some pretty serious side effects as well? Continue reading
Where should you not use triamcinolone acetonide cream?
You should not use topical corticosteroids like triamcinolone acetonide cream on your face, groin, or axillae (underarm, armpit) unless directed by your doctor. Using triamcinolone in these areas may lead to unwanted side effects like acne, prominent blood vessels, skin thinning (atrophy), changes in skin color or unwanted hair growth. Continue reading
Related medical questions
- What are the new drugs for plaque psoriasis?
- Is triamcinolone acetonide an antifungal cream?
- How do you use clobetasol propionate on your scalp?
- Clobetasol vs. triamcinolone - how do they compare?
- What is a substitute for fluocinonide cream?
- How long does methotrexate stay in your system?
- Halobetasol vs. clobetasol - How do they compare?
- Does taking vitamin D help with psoriasis?
- Can clobetasol be used for toenail fungus?
- What causes Plaque Psoriasis?
- Sotyktu vs Otezla: How do they compare?
- How does Taltz compare to Cosentyx for psoriatic arthritis?
- How long does it take for Skyrizi to work?
- How long does clobetasol stay in your system?
- What are 6 key Taltz side effects to watch out for?
- Is fluocinonide an antifungal cream?
- How long does it take for Otezla to work?
- Does Feverfew interact with any drugs?
- How long should you use fluocinonide for?
- How do you inject Humira?
- What's the dosing schedule for Skyrizi?
- Cosentyx vs Humira: How do they compare?
- What is the mechanism of action of infliximab?
- What happens if Cosentyx is not refrigerated?
Drug information
Related support groups
- Psoriasis (107 questions, 309 members)
- Methotrexate (72 questions, 454 members)
- Folic Acid (16 questions, 52 members)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (331 questions, 1,328 members)
- Folic Acid Deficiency (5 questions, 25 members)