Methocel may be prescribed by your doctor in different doses to treat a variety of conditions. Methocel interferes with the growth of certain cells of the body, especially cells that reproduce quickly, such as cancer cells, bone marrow cells, and skin cells. Methocel is usually given after other medications have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms.
Methocel works by making it harder for your body to make or repair DNA. Cells in your body that grow rapidly react to this effect. When cancer cells grow more than normal cells, Methocel harms the cancer cells.
Methocel is used to treat a wide variety of cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, soft tissue and bone cancers, and a number of solid tumors, particularly breast, lung, head and neck, bladder, cervical, ovarian, and testicular cancers. It may be given by mouth or injection, depending on the dose, and is most commonly used in combination with other chemotherapy medicines. Methocel contain the active ingredient Methotrexate, which is a type of medicine called a cytotoxic antimetabolite.
Methocel is used in lower doses taken by mouth to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis and severe psoriasis that have not responded to other treatments. Methocel may be prescribed when rheumatoid arthritis does not improve sufficiently with conventional treatment, or for people who cannot tolerate conventional treatments. Methocel is thought to work by suppressing the excessive activity of the immune system that causes the inflammation in this condition, although the exact way it works is not fully understood.
In treating psoriasis, Methocel works by preventing the excessive division and multiplication of skin cells that causes the skin scaling and raised plaques in this condition. It is used when the condition is severe and unresponsive to conventional treatments.
Many drugs can interact with Methocel tell your doctor about all medications you currently take or use to determine if Methocel is safe for you to take. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of your medications while taking Methocel without talking to your doctor.
Drinking alcohol raises your risk of liver side effects from Methocel so avoid alcohol while you’re taking this medication. In low doses Methotrexate can also affect the division of normal, healthy cells, and it has the potential to produce serious side effects. For this reason, treatment with Methocel is usually only started by hospital specialists and regular blood tests are needed to monitor for potential side effects.
Possible side effects of Methocel: chills; nausea, increased risk of infection, tiredness, headache.
You should consult your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms, as they could indicate a problem with your blood cells: unexplained bruising or bleeding, purple spots, sore throat, mouth ulcers, fever, feeling tired or general illness.
