What class of drug is methotrexate?
Category:
medical health
bone and joint conditions
Methotrexate is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. Methotrexate treats cancer by slowing the growth of cancer cells. Methotrexate treats psoriasis by slowing the growth of skin cells to stop scales from forming. Methotrexate may treat rheumatoid arthritis by decreasing the activity of the immune system.
In this regard, is Methotrexate a steroid?
(1) Methotrexate is an effective steroid-sparing agent.
Just so, is Methotrexate a chemo drug?
When used for inflammatory arthritis, methotrexate is not considered chemotherapy. It is considered a DMARD (Disease modifying anti-rheumatic Drug). And it IS a chemotherapy drug. But there is a huge difference between taking a low dose of a drug that is used in cancer as chemotherapy, and being on chemotherapy.
Low-dose MTX has been considered as an immunosuppressive treatment, and there is a belief amongst rheumatologists that RA patients taking MTX not only have an increased risk of infection but also increased severity when infected [33].