Methotrexate (Maxtrex)
Methotrexate is one type of chemotherapy drug you might have as a treatment for bone cancer.
Methotrexate is a type of chemotherapy. It's a treatment for a number of different types of cancer.
How you have methotrexate
How you have methotrexate depends on what type of cancer you have. You can have it as:
- an injection into your blood stream (intravenous)
- a tablet or a liquid you can drink (solution)
- an injection into your muscle (buttock or thigh)
- an injection into your spinal fluid (intrathecal injection)
For bone cancer you normally have high dose methotrexate as a drip into your bloodstream.
Methotrexate damages cancer cells. It also stops some normal cells working properly, causing side effects. To help normal cells recover you might have another drug called folinic acid. You take folinic acid until the amount of methotrexate in your blood has fallen below a certain level. This will help reduce side effects.
Your nurse collects a urine sample each time you pass urine. Your nurse checks the ph (acidity) of your urine.
Into your bloodstream
You have treatment through a thin short tube (a cannula) that goes into a vein in your arm each time you have treatment.
Or you might have treatment through a long line: a central line, a PICC line or a portacath. These are long plastic tubes that give the drug into a large vein in your chest. The tube stays in place throughout the course of treatment. This means your doctor or nurse won't have to put in a cannula every time you have treatment.
How often do you have methotrexate?
You usually have it as a course of several 
. Each cycle varies depending on what type of cancer you have. Your doctor or nurse will tell you more about this.
Tests
You have blood tests before and during your treatment. They check your levels of blood cells and other substances in the blood. They also check how well your liver and kidneys are working.
Side effects of methotrexate
More information about this treatment
For further information about this treatment and possible side effects go to the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC) website. You can find the patient information leaflet on this website.
You can report any side effect you have to the Medicines Health and Regulatory Authority (MHRA) as part of their Yellow Card Scheme.
