Methotrexate

WHAT CHECKS WILL I NEED BEFORE I START IT?

Before you start treatment you will need to have blood tests, including liver and kidney tests, as methotrexate can affect the blood count and sometimes cause liver problems. Your doctor may also request a chest x-ray, lung function tests, or liver scans. If your bone marrow, liver or kidney function is not working properly, methotrexate may not be suitable for you. If you haven’t had chicken pox or shingles before, you may be tested to see if you are immune to the virus that causes them, and you may be given a vaccine to protect you from catching the virus before you start taking methotrexate. If you are female, you may be asked to take a pregnancy test before you start taking the drug because methotrexate can be harmful to the unborn baby.

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