WHAT IS metoject® 50 mg/ml?

General information


metoject® 50 mg/ml is a pre-filled syringe for injection containing the drug methotrexate. metoject® 50 mg/ml is registered for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and is available in different doses. Your doctor will choose the correct dose for you. Please go to „Indications“ in the menu bar to see for which indications metoject® is also registered in your country.

 

HOW IS metoject® 50 mg/ml TAKEN?

Injection guide


metoject® 50 mg/ml is ready to use and is provided with a pre-attached needle(staked). metoject® 50 mg/ml can be injected subcutaneously (under the skin, like insulin injections for patients with diabetes), which means that the drug is taken up without passing the digestive tract. Please note that metoject® 50 mg/ml has to be taken only once a week on the same day.

 

TRAVELLING WITH metoject® 50 mg/ml

What should you consider?


Please keep metoject® 50 mg/ml syringes in the closed original packaging (blister) and carry them in your hand luggage. Hereby, syringes can not be lost and you can control the storage at room temperature of > 15°C and < 25°C. Should the temperature rise above 25° C in the aircraft cabin, please ask a stewardess to put the syringes in a fridge on board.

If you plan to travel to warmer areas, please consider to carry a small cooling box for the transport from the airport to your hotel. In case of unexpected elongation of your journey, please consider to take additional metoject® 50 mg/ml syringes with you.

Should you require any document to attest that you need metoject® 50 mg/ml syringes for your therapy when entering a foreign country, please find attached a certificate in English, Spanish, French, German and Turkish below. A completely filled out form should be accepted in most countries. Traveller's certificate for patients carrying metoject® 50 mg/ml syringes on flights: [Download PDF-File]

WHAT IS METHOTREXATE?

General information


The active ingredient of metoject® 50 mg/ml is methotrexate (MTX). Methotrexate is a very well-known so-called disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) meaning that it does not just relieve the pain of patients with joint inflammation and/or psoriasis, but actually helps to stop and prevent this inflammation and the resulting damage. In these autoimmune diseases the immune system is too active and mistakenly attacks the own body. Methotrexate can help to slow down the effects of an over-stimulated immune system and thus to control disease activity.

In rheumatoid arthritis - and in some countries also in juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis - methotrexate is the most commonly prescribed drug and is well-known also in the treatment of severe psoriasis.

Like any other medication, methotrexate can possibly be accompanied by side effects. Due to the relatively low doses of methotrexate used for the treatment of the diseases for which metoject® 50 mg/ml is indicated, these effects occur less often and are less severe than in the treatment with higher doses. Furthermore, there are several possibilities to reduce these discomforts. Therefore, should you have any side effect while taking the drug, please inform your doctor.

TALKING METHOTREXATE

What should you consider?


Methotrexate and thus metoject® 50 mg/ml is only available on prescription and must be used carefully. Please bear in mind that in contrast to many other drugs methotrexate is taken only once a week. Please do not change the dosage arbitrarily.

Your doctor will perform regular examinations including blood tests to control your disease and the effects of your therapy.In addition, you can help to avoid side effects with methotrexate by not drinking alcohol while taking the drug.

Please make sure not to get pregnant while on methotrexate because the drug may harm your baby. Speak to your doctor as soon as possible if you are planning a family – also if you are male and take methotrexate! The drug has to be withdrawn several months before conception. Furthermore, methotrexate must not be taken if you are breast-feeding, as the agent is excreted in breast milk and may cause harm to your infant.

If all this is considered, methotrexate is a very effective and well tolerable drug for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis diseases and psoriasis.