What is methotrexate?
Methotrexate is a folate derivative that inhibits several enzymes responsible for nucleotide synthesis. This inhibition leads to suppression of inflammation as well as prevention of cell division. Because of these effects, methotrexate is often used to treat inflammation caused by arthritis or to control cell division in neoplastic diseases such as breast cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Symptoms of overdose include hematologic and gastrointestinal reactions like leukopenia. Also, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, pancytopenia, bone marrow suppression, mucositis, stomatitis, oral ulceration, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal ulceration, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
In the event of an overdose, patients should be treated with glucarpidase and not be given leucovorin for 2 hours before or after glucarpidase.
