Adverse drug reactions caused by methotrexate in Saudi population. 2012

Haya M Al-Malaq, and Hussein F Al-Arfaj, and Abdurhman S Al-Arfaj
Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to document adverse drug reactions (ARDs) of methotrexate (MTX) in Saudi patients. METHODS Cross sectional study of adult patients on MTX, attending rheumatology drug monitoring clinics in a university hospital, over a period of 24 weeks. Adverse drug reactions were sought by patient interview, files review and laboratory abnormalities. RESULTS Data collected included patients' demographics, diagnoses, co-morbidities, MTX dose and duration, other medications, laboratory abnormalities and adverse reactions, their severity, preventability, and outcome. Out of a total of 593 patients screened, 186 (31.4%) using MTX were interviewed. Most of the patients were female (88.5%). Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were detected in 61 patients (32.8%). Patients with ADRs took a mean dose of 12.9 mg (2.5-22.5 mg). Ten ADRs (16.4% of total reactions) were preventable; they ranged between severe, moderate and mild. The most common ADRs were gastrointestinal (GI) (52.5%), followed by anemia (8.2%) and chest tightness (6.6%). The duration of the reaction ranged from few hours to 4 years. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion our patients with adverse reactions were younger, took less medications and had less co-morbidities. Our results were different from those published in the literature relating MTX toxicity.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries

Related Publications

Haya M Al-Malaq, and Hussein F Al-Arfaj, and Abdurhman S Al-Arfaj
June 1977, Drug and therapeutics bulletin,
Haya M Al-Malaq, and Hussein F Al-Arfaj, and Abdurhman S Al-Arfaj
November 2013, Emergency medicine clinics of North America,
Haya M Al-Malaq, and Hussein F Al-Arfaj, and Abdurhman S Al-Arfaj
January 2014, Inflammation & allergy drug targets,
Haya M Al-Malaq, and Hussein F Al-Arfaj, and Abdurhman S Al-Arfaj
September 2004, Ophthalmology clinics of North America,
Haya M Al-Malaq, and Hussein F Al-Arfaj, and Abdurhman S Al-Arfaj
March 2011, Journal of medical case reports,
Haya M Al-Malaq, and Hussein F Al-Arfaj, and Abdurhman S Al-Arfaj
August 2008, Zhongguo dang dai er ke za zhi = Chinese journal of contemporary pediatrics,
Haya M Al-Malaq, and Hussein F Al-Arfaj, and Abdurhman S Al-Arfaj
January 2012, Expert opinion on drug safety,
Haya M Al-Malaq, and Hussein F Al-Arfaj, and Abdurhman S Al-Arfaj
January 2000, Bollettino chimico farmaceutico,
Haya M Al-Malaq, and Hussein F Al-Arfaj, and Abdurhman S Al-Arfaj
January 1978, Journal of community health,
Haya M Al-Malaq, and Hussein F Al-Arfaj, and Abdurhman S Al-Arfaj
April 2018, British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing),
Copied contents to your clipboard!