Methotrexate 4 tablets per week is not recommended for life.
Methotrexate is a kind of antifolate antitumor drug, mainly through the inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase, so that dihydrofolate can not be normally converted to tetrahydrofolate, thus blocking the synthesis of DNA and RNA, to play the role of inhibiting the growth and reproduction of tumor cells.
How long you can take methotrexate 4 tablets per week depends on the specific disease and the improvement of the condition after taking it, and cannot be generalized. Some patients using methotrexate 4 tablets per week to treat rheumatoid arthritis can temporarily stop taking the drug after 1 to 2 years of use due to improvement of symptoms, or use a small dose of maintenance therapy.
However, most patients can have recurrent relapses, and some patients may take the drug for a longer period of time. However, the drug may cause adverse reactions such as stomatitis, mouth and lip ulcers, pharyngitis, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, jaundice, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase. It is contraindicated in patients known to be highly allergic to the product.
Prolonged use can cause cough, shortness of breath, pneumonia or pulmonary fibrosis, and prolonged oral administration of small doses can lead to significant bone marrow suppression, anemia and platelet drop with skin or visceral bleeding; therefore, lifelong use of methotrexate is not recommended.
Note that methotrexate must be used under the supervision of a doctor and should not be used privately.