Caditrex 2mg Injection

Reviewed By Dr. Shilpa Garcha, MD (Pharmacology), MBBS

Last updated on 23 Jul 2024 | 08:58 PM (IST)

Caditrex 2mg Injection is a medicine used to treat rheumatoid arthritis where it helps prevent further joint damage. It is also used to treat severe forms of a skin disease called psoriasis, in the treatment of various cancers, and in the treatment of Crohn's disease.

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₹63.1 MRP ₹653% off

General Information

Contains

Methotrexate (2mg)

Marketer

Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Storage

Store below 30°C

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Product introduction

Caditrex 2mg Injection is given under the supervision of a doctor or a nurse and should not be self-administered. It may be used by itself or in combination with other medicines. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to. You should avoid drinking alcohol as it may increase your risk of liver damage.

The most common side effects of this medicine include abdominal pain, indigestion, los of appetite, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, hair loss, and low blood platelets. Your doctor may advise you to take folic acid to reduce some of these. If they do not go away or get worse, tell your doctor. There may be ways of preventing or reducing these effects. It is powerful medicine, and some people may develop serious side effects while taking it. This medicine may lower your ability to fight infections and lead to problems with your blood, liver, or kidneys. Your doctor will advise you on regular blood tests to check for these.

Before taking it, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, have stomach, liver, or kidney problems, or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your healthcare team know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. It may harm your baby. You and your partner should avoid becoming pregnant or fathering a child for several months after your treatment with it has stopped. Your doctor may perform several tests such as blood tests, X-rays, and physical examinations both before and during treatment with this medicine.

Uses of Caditrex Injection

Benefits of Caditrex Injection

Treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis
Caditrex 2mg Injection belongs to a group of medicines called antimetabolites. It may be used to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis if other treatments have already been tried and have not worked. It is not a first-line treatment. It works by reducing the body's immune system, this decreases swelling, reduces pain, stiffness, and improves function. Take it exactly as prescribed and for as long as it is prescribed to get the most benefit. Do not take more than you should. It may take several months to become fully effective.

Treatment of Psoriasis
Caditrex 2mg Injection belongs to a group of medicines called antimetabolites. It may be used to treat severe psoriasis when other treatments have not worked. Psoriasis is a condition where the skin cells in the body grow too quickly. Caditrex 2mg Injection works by killing these fast-growing cells. It is potent and very toxic medicine and you should discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Take it exactly as prescribed and for as long as it is prescribed to get the most benefit. DO NOT take more than you should. It may take several months to become fully effective. You should avoid drinking alcohol while having this treatment and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Side effects of Caditrex Injection

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Caditrex

Abdominal pain
Indigestion
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Tiredness
Mouth sore
Low blood platelets
Hair loss

How to use Caditrex Injection

Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.

How Caditrex Injection works

Caditrex 2mg Injection is an immunosuppressant. In rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, it works by decreasing the activity of the body's immune system. This decreases swelling, reduces pain and stiffness, and improves function. In psoriasis, it works by slowing down the rapid growth of skin cells. In cancer, it inhibits cancer cells from multiplying by blocking a special enzyme that is needed to make new cells.

Quick tips

It is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneously), usually in the upper thigh or the abdomen.
Take it once a week, on the same day every week.
Drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated while taking this medication.
Always take folic acid as advised by your doctor. This will help lessen the side effects of this medicine.
It may take 6 to 8 weeks for Caditrex 2mg Injection to work. Keep taking the medication as prescribed.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine as it may increase the risk of side effects.
It can be harmful to an unborn baby. Avoid pregnancy for at least 6 months after your last dose.

Safety advice

Alcohol

CAUTION

Caution is advised when consuming alcohol with Caditrex 2mg Injection. Please consult your doctor.

Pregnancy

UNSAFE

Caditrex 2mg Injection is highly unsafe to use during pregnancy. Seek your doctor's advice as studies on pregnant women and animals have shown significant harmful effects to the developing baby.

Breast feeding

UNSAFE

Caditrex 2mg Injection is unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Data suggests that the drug may cause toxicity to the baby.

Driving

UNSAFE

Caditrex 2mg Injection may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.

Kidney

CAUTION

Caditrex 2mg Injection should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Caditrex 2mg Injection may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Regular monitoring of kidney function test is advised while you are taking this medicine.

Liver

CAUTION

Caditrex 2mg Injection should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Caditrex 2mg Injection may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Use of Caditrex 2mg Injection is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease.

Frequently asked questions

Can Caditrex 2mg Injection cause mouth ulcers?

Yes, Caditrex 2mg Injection can cause a sore mouth and mouth ulcers as side effects in some cases. Taking folic acid along with this medicine may help in reducing the ulcers. Ask your doctor if the dose can be reduced as dose reduction may further help in reducing the ulcers.

Why do I have to take folic acid with Caditrex 2mg Injection?

Folic acid is required to make new cells in the body and Caditrex 2mg Injection decreases the folic acid levels in the body. Folic acid can help reduce some of the common side effects of Caditrex 2mg Injection such as mouth ulcers, hair loss, nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain, fatigue, anemia and liver problems.

Why do I need to take regular blood tests while taking Caditrex 2mg Injection?

Regular blood tests will help your doctor to check your response to Caditrex 2mg Injection and monitor you for side effects. You will need to regularly check your liver function and your blood counts (white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets). Your doctor may also order additional tests depending on the results.

Can Caditrex 2mg Injection use make me more prone to infections?

Caditrex 2mg Injection may decrease the activity of your immune system. As a result, you may develop serious infections. There have been rare reports which suggest occurrence of serious lung infections with Caditrex 2mg Injection use. If you have an active infection, Caditrex 2mg Injection should be used with extreme caution.

Can Caditrex 2mg Injection affect fertility?

Yes, Caditrex 2mg Injection may affect fertility in both males and females. It may cause a decrease in sperm count in males and menstrual disturbances in females. No need to worry, these effects are reversible and disappear once the therapy is discontinued.

What to do if I am planning to become pregnant and my husband is taking Caditrex 2mg Injection?

You should avoid pregnancy if your husband is taking Caditrex 2mg Injection. Also, it is advised that pregnancy should be further avoided for a minimum of 3 months after the therapy as it can lead to serious fetal abnormalities.

Fact Box

Chemical Class

Glutamic Acid Derivative

Habit Forming

Therapeutic Class

ANTI NEOPLASTICS

Action Class

Antimetabolite- Methotrexate

Related lab tests

Anti Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (ASCA), IgA

Anti Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (ASCA), IgG

Rheumatoid Factor - Agglutination

Rheumatoid Factor - Turbidometry

Rheumatoid Factor IgG Antibody

References

Chu E, Sartorelli AC. Cancer Chemotherapy. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. pp. 944-46.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 887-90.
CiplaMed. Methotrexate [Prescribing Information]. Last Reviewed: Feb 2019]. [Accessed 11 Jul. 2023]. (online) Available from:
Hanoodi M, Mittal M. Methotrexate. [Updated 2023 Jan 16]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan. [Accessed 11 Jul. 2023]. (online) Available from:
Rampton DS. Methotrexate in Crohn's disease. Gut. 2001 Jun;48(6):790-1. [Accessed 11 Jul. 2023]. (online) Available from:
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation. Manufacturing and Marketing permission issued from SND Division from 01.01.2018 to 28.09.2018. [Accessed 11 Jul. 2023]. (online) Available from:

Patient concerns

Sir/Ma'am, I feel pain in the heel of both the legs especially when I get up from the bed in the morning. After walking couple of steps, it goes away. there is no bone problem reported in the Xray report. Please guide me what could be the reason?

Dr. Mehtab Baig

Orthopaedic Physiotherapy

This is the test for rheumatoid arthritis

I have joint pain in my rt wrist since 6 yrs. What are the possible reasons?

Dr. Trilok Kumar Jha

Orthopaedics

It may be Tenosynovitis, or Rheumatoid arthritis or any other type of arthritis

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Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.

Marketer details

Name: Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Address: Sarkhej-Dholka Road, Bhat, Ahmedabad-382 210, INDIA.

Vendor Details

Country of origin: India

Lab tests offered by us

Why we need a prescription?

Provide right medicines

Prescriptions are complex documents. We proof read and recheck at various steps to provide you the right medication in the correct form and dose

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Most medicines cannot be sold without a valid prescription, as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945

Caditrex 2mg Injection

General Information

Contains

Marketer

Storage

Product introduction

Uses of Caditrex Injection

Benefits of Caditrex Injection

Side effects of Caditrex Injection

How to use Caditrex Injection

How Caditrex Injection works

Quick tips

Safety advice

Alcohol

Pregnancy

Breast feeding

Driving

Kidney

Liver

Frequently asked questions

Can Caditrex 2mg Injection cause mouth ulcers?

Why do I have to take folic acid with Caditrex 2mg Injection?

Why do I need to take regular blood tests while taking Caditrex 2mg Injection?

Can Caditrex 2mg Injection use make me more prone to infections?

Can Caditrex 2mg Injection affect fertility?

What to do if I am planning to become pregnant and my husband is taking Caditrex 2mg Injection?

Fact Box

Chemical Class

Habit Forming

Therapeutic Class

Action Class

Related lab tests

Anti Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (ASCA), IgA

Anti Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (ASCA), IgG

Rheumatoid Factor - Agglutination

Rheumatoid Factor - Turbidometry

Rheumatoid Factor IgG Antibody

References

Patient concerns

Sir/Ma'am, I feel pain in the heel of both the legs especially when I get up from the bed in the morning. After walking couple of steps, it goes away. there is no bone problem reported in the Xray report. Please guide me what could be the reason?

I have joint pain in my rt wrist since 6 yrs. What are the possible reasons?

Want to know more

Have issue with the content

Disclaimer

Marketer details

Vendor Details

Lab tests offered by us

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