Methotrexate — Nutrient Associations & Health Patterns
Also known as: Methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall, Otrexup)
Drug Class: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) / Chemotherapy agent
Methotrexate is a Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) / Chemotherapy agent that may affect nutrient status or medication timing in some contexts. WePattern Pattern Health Intelligence maps evidence-qualified nutrient associations, side effects, and interaction context linked to Methotrexate.
Reported Nutrient Associations for Methotrexate
Peer-reviewed research reports relationships involving the following nutrients. WePattern surfaces them as evidence-qualified associations; they do not establish deficiency, causation, or a fixed timeline for an individual.
- Folic acid
- Vitamin B12
- Choline
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- CoQ10
Common Side Effects of Methotrexate
- Nausea and vomiting (very common — often on day-of and day-after weekly dose)
- Fatigue ('methotrexate hangover' the day after weekly dose)
- Mouth sores (oral mucositis — folate depletion)
- Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis (cumulative dose risk — requires liver monitoring)
- Pulmonary toxicity (rare but serious — dry cough, shortness of breath)
- Bone marrow suppression (immunosuppression)
- Hair thinning
- Megaloblastic anemia (folate and B12 depletion)
Key Drug Interactions — Methotrexate
Methotrexate has 9 documented drug-drug interactions in WePattern's Pattern Health Intelligence database. Key interactions include:
- NSAIDs (reduce methotrexate clearance — toxicity risk at rheumatologic doses)
- Aspirin (raises methotrexate levels — bleeding and toxicity)
- Penicillin antibiotics including amoxicillin (reduce methotrexate clearance — toxicity)
- Proton pump inhibitors (raise methotrexate levels — reduce clearance)
- Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (additive folate antagonism — dangerous megaloblastic anemia)
- Live vaccines (methotrexate is immunosuppressive — no live vaccines)
Frequently Asked Questions
What nutrient associations are reported for Methotrexate?
Methotrexate has reported nutrient associations involving Folic acid, Vitamin B12, Choline, Magnesium, Zinc, CoQ10 in clinical research. This does not establish that every person will become deficient or that the medication caused an individual result.
Which nutrient relationships are mapped for Methotrexate?
WePattern maps reported associations involving: Folic acid, Vitamin B12, Choline, Magnesium, Zinc, CoQ10. The strength, mechanism, dose, duration, and clinical relevance vary, so a clinician or pharmacist should interpret them in context.
What are the side effects of Methotrexate?
Common side effects associated with Methotrexate include: Nausea and vomiting (very common — often on day-of and day-after weekly dose); Fatigue ('methotrexate hangover' the day after weekly dose); Mouth sores (oral mucositis — folate depletion); Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis (cumulative dose risk — requires liver monitoring); Pulmonary toxicity (rare but serious — dry cough, shortness of breath).