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Metrex drug with the main ingredient is Methotrexate 2.5 mg, which is commonly used in the treatment of various types of tumors in cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Learning the necessary information about the composition, uses, dosage and side effects of Metrex will help patients and doctors improve the effectiveness of treatment.
1. What is Metrex?
What is Metrex? Metrex is made in the form of tablets, with the main ingredients including:
Active ingredient: Methotrexate 2.5 mg. Excipients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Starch, Povidone, Talc Powder, Magnesium Stearate, Yellow No.1 just enough 1 tablet 2.5 mg. Mechanism of action
Methotrexate has a stronger affinity for Dihydrofolate Reductase Enzyme than folic acid, so this active ingredient has the ability to competitively inhibit folic acid, making folic acid unable to contact Dihydrofolate Reductase Enzyme, thereby not converted to Tetrahydrofolic Acid.
When Tetrahydrofolic Acid is not produced, DNA biosynthesis is inhibited and mitosis is stopped, so Methotrexate specifically inhibits the replication phase (S phase). The cells most sensitive to methotrexate are proliferating tissues such as malignant cells in bone marrow, embryo, skin epithelium, oral epithelium, and intestinal mucosa.
In addition, Methotrexate has immunosuppressive and/or anti-inflammatory effects, so it is also used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and is used to suppress the anti-fragmentation reaction. host transplantation after bone marrow transplantation.
2. What does Metrex do?
Metrex is used in the treatment of the following cases:
Tumor or cancer
Placental cancer, ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy. Used alone or in combination with other anti-cancer drugs in the treatment of lung cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer in the head, face and neck area, severe mycosis fungoides. Used in combination with other cancer drugs in the treatment of advanced non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Rheumatoid Arthritis
Patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis, unresponsive to maximum doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Psoriasis
Patients with severe-stage psoriasis not responding to other therapies other treatments.
3. Contraindications of the drug Metrex
Contraindications of the drug Metrex in the following cases:
Patients with hypersensitivity to any component of the drug Metrex. History of allergy to drugs containing the active ingredient methotrexate. Patients with severe liver and kidney failure. Pregnant or breastfeeding women with cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis. Patients with recent rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis associated with: Immune-deficient diseases or laboratory findings suggestive of immunodeficiency. Hematologic disorders such as severe anemia, marrow failure, myeloproliferative disorders, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia.
4. Dosage and how to use the drug Metrex
4.1. Note The treatment with Metrex drug should be prescribed and closely monitored by a physician experienced in cancer chemotherapy. Oral dose may be up to 30 mg/m2 of skin (m2 of body skin surface area) 4.2. Dose Tumor or cancer
Placental cancer, pregnancy: Take 2 – 4 tablets (5 – 10mg)/time x 3 times/day. Treatment for 5 days, repeat from 3 to 5 courses of treatment, the break is usually from one to many weeks until there are no symptoms.
Acute lymphocytic leukemia:
Starting dose: Usually intravenous Methotrexate is used in combination with Prednisolone or other drugs. Maintenance dose: Take 25-30 mg/m2 skin/time x 2 times/week. Warts in the form of fungi:
Take 1-2 tablets (2.5 - 10mg)/time x 1-2 times/day.
Burkitt lymphoma
Stage I - II: Take 2 - 5 tablets (5 - 12.5 mg) / time x 2 times / day. Use from 4 to 8 days. Stage III: Oral 0.625 - 2.5 mg/kg/day, combined with other anti-tumor drugs. The interval between treatments is 7-10 days. Rheumatoid arthritis
Initial dose: Take 3 tablets (7.5 mg) / time x 1 time / week or take 1 tablet (2.5 mg) / time x 3 times every 12 hours. Maintenance dose: Reduce dose slowly until symptoms respond. Maximum total dose in a week is 20 mg. Psoriasis
Initial dose: Take 4 - 10 tablets (10 - 25 mg)/time x 1 time/week or take 1 tablet (2.5 mg)/time x 3 times every 12 hours. Maintenance dose: Reduce dose slowly until symptoms respond. Total dose in a week maximum 30 mg.
5. Precautions when using Metrex
5.1. Side effects: Using Metrex in high doses or for a long time may experience the following undesirable effects.
Common: Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, hair loss, stomatitis, angioedema, pruritus, urticaria, bone marrow suppression, impaired renal function. Uncommon: Nosebleeds, pneumonia, vaginal ulcers, peptic ulcers, enteritis, allergies, skin rashes, photosensitivity, osteoporosis, convulsions, epilepsy, conjunctivitis, production inhibition sperm. Rare: Depression, decreased libido, impotence, shortness of breath, dry cough. Patients should stop taking the drug as soon as they detect the above symptoms after using Metrex and immediately notify the medical staff for timely treatment.
5.2. Precautions for the use of Metrex in subjects Caution should be exercised when using Metrex in patients with impaired liver and kidney function. It is necessary to reduce the dose of Metrex and regularly monitor liver and kidney function tests to promptly detect unwanted symptoms. Pregnant or lactating women: Methotrexate can cross the placental barrier and breast milk, thereby causing strong teratogenicity and adverse effects on nursing infants. The use of Metrex is contraindicated in these subjects.
6. Metrex drug interactions
Interactions with other drugs
Metrex reduces the clearance of theophylline drug . Penicillin reduces the clearance of the drug Metrex. Concomitant use of the following drugs with Metrex may increase gastrointestinal and blood toxicity: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Tetracyclines. Chloramphenicol . Etretinate. Retinoids. Phenylbutazone . Phenytoin . Sulfonamides. Above is an overview of the composition, uses, dosage and necessary notes when using Metrex. To ensure the safety and improve the effectiveness of treatment with Metrex, it is necessary to cooperate with both patients, family members and medical staff at medical facilities.
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