Can methotrexate affect the kidneys?
These drugs can indirectly cause kidney damage by raising blood pressure levels and putting additional stress on the kidneys. Other rheumatoid arthritis drugs, such as methotrexate, can be toxic to the kidneys at high doses and are not recommend for people with existing kidney damage and RA.
What are the long term side effects of methotrexate for ectopic pregnancy?
Severe adverse effects are infrequent in MTX treatment for ectopic pregnancy. The potential severe adverse effects of MTX treatment are hepatotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity, risk of infection, myelosupression, and nephrotoxicity.
How long did it take for hCG to drop after methotrexate?
We have found that a fall in serum hCG between days 0–4 after single-dose methotrexate treatment of ectopic pregnancy (where the pre-treatment serum hCG is ≤3000 IU/L), predicts treatment success in 85% of cases, with no further intervention required (medical or surgical).
How long after methotrexate can I get pregnant?
How long do I need to wait to become pregnant after I stop taking methotrexate? Some healthcare providers suggest waiting 1 to 3 months after stopping methotrexate to ensure the medication has been cleared from the body.
Can methotrexate cause acute kidney injury?
High dose methotrexate is widely used for management of adult and pediatric malignancies. However, high-dose methotrexate–induced renal nephrotoxicity may cause severe, even lethal complications.
What happens to the patient when he has methotrexate toxicity?
Adverse effects of methotrexate can occur at therapeutic levels and include headache, malaise, mouth ulcers and hairfall. In overdose, vomiting, diarrhoea and gastrointestinal bleeding may occur, as well as severe bone marrow suppression and disturbance of liver function.
Does methotrexate cause birth defects?
No. Methotrexate used in early pregnancy can cause miscarriage and/or serious birth defects in the baby. Birth defects have almost always been seen with use of high doses of methotrexate. However, it is not yet clear whether use of lower doses of methotrexate during pregnancy may also cause birth defects in the baby.
What hCG level is too high for methotrexate?
MTX should not be used when hCG is higher than 5,000 IU/L and laparoscopic surgery should be performed.
Can an ectopic rupture after methotrexate?
There is still around a one in 14 chance of your fallopian tubes splitting open (rupture) after medical treatment with methotrexate, even if your hCG levels are going down. Therefore, be aware of the potential symptoms of a rupture and be ready to call an ambulance if you think a rupture has occurred.
Does methotrexate affect future pregnancies?
Methotrexate can stay in the body for some time. Due to the possible (theoretical) risk that methotrexate left over in the body could affect a pregnancy, doctors and drug companies recommend that women receiving treatment with methotrexate should avoid becoming pregnant for up to six months after treatment has ended.