Drug & supplement interaction

Cannabis + Methotrexate

Methotrexate brand names: Rheumatrex, Otrexup, Rasuvo, Reditrex.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Cannabis and Methotrexate in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Cannabis and Methotrexate

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Methotrexate and Cannabis in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Cannabis safety at a glance

Cannabis overall Use caution Can cause impairment, dependence, and mental health effects; use carefully and under medical guidance where legal.
Pregnancy Unsafe When used orally or inhaled. Constituents in cannabis pass through the placenta and can reduce fetal growth and increase the risk for preterm birth. Cannabis us... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Unsafe When used orally or inhaled. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is concentrated and excreted in breast milk for longer than 6 weeks after cessation of cannabis... Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Methotrexate and Cannabis? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Methotrexate

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Methotrexate is filed under 6 classifications — including organic anion-transporting polypeptide substrates (oatp), organic anion transporter 3 (oat3) substrates, hepatotoxic drugs. Cannabis has documented interactions with 18 drug classes — the most serious being warfarin (coumadin) (major), alcohol (ethanol) (moderate) and anesthesia (moderate) — and none of Methotrexate’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Cannabis Does Interact With Other Medications

Cannabis has 2 major, 1,109 moderate, 25 minor known drug interactions in our database — Methotrexate isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 2 Moderate 1,109 Minor 25 No known interaction 1,694 (incl. Methotrexate)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Cannabis

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Cannabis. Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Cannabis and Methotrexate May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. 10 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Loss of vision Worth acting on Additional detail

    Cannabis

    “The use of inhaled cannabis can cause a characteristic reddening of the eyes. Smoking cannabis can also cause dry eyes. Acute poisoning from cannabis can cause lacrimation (18). Orally, in children ages 12 years and younger, accidental ingestion of cannabis-containing edibles has been associated with nystagmus.”

    Cannabis · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dry eye.

    6 sources cited
    1. 2619. Hebel SK, ed. Drug Facts and Comparisons. 52nd ed. St. Louis: Facts and Comparisons, 1998.
    2. 96389. Ocampo TL, Rans TS. Cannabis sativa: the unconventional "weed" allergen. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2015;114(3):187-92. PubMed
    3. 17371. Ware MA, Wang T, Shapiro S, et al. Smoked cannabis for chronic neuropathic pain: a randomized controlled trial. CMAJ 2010;182:e694-e701. PubMed
    4. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
    5. 103793. Ammerman SD, Ryan SA, Adelman WP, et al. The impact of marijuana policies on youth: clinical, research, and legal update. Pediatrics. 2015;135(3):584-7. DOI
    6. 103794. Emoto J, Weeks K, Kallail KJ. Accidental Acute Cannabis Intoxication Presenting as Seizure in Pediatrics Patients. Kans J Med. 2020;13: 129-130. DOI

    Methotrexate

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Methotrexate. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Bone thinning Worth acting on Additional detail

    Cannabis

    “Meta-analyses of up to 3 observational studies in adults with recent total hip or knee arthroplasty suggests that a history of cannabis use is associated with a greater risk of postoperative surgical revision, dislocation, mechanical loosening of prosthesis, periprosthetic fracture, and infection when compared with no history of cannabis use.

    Chronic use of large amounts of cannabis has been associated with alteratio…”

    Cannabis · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in bone loss.

    5 sources cited
    1. 115363. Yang G, Li F, Wang Q, Liu Y, Guo J, Yue C. Association between history of cannabis use and outcomes after total hip or knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health 2024;12:1377688. PubMed
    2. 92673. Reece AS. Severe multisystem dysfunction in a case of high level exposure to smoked cannabis. BMJ Case Rep. 2009;2009. pii: bcr08.2008.0798. PubMed
    3. 110238. Simonsen SK, Rittig NF, Poulsen PL, Svart MV. Hypokalemic paresis in a 26-year-old man after recreational cannabis use. Am J Case Rep 2022;23:e936008. PubMed
    4. 103793. Ammerman SD, Ryan SA, Adelman WP, et al. The impact of marijuana policies on youth: clinical, research, and legal update. Pediatrics. 2015;135(3):584-7. DOI
    5. 104492. Lewis B, Fleeger T, Judge B, Riley B, Jones JS. Acute toxicity associated with cannabis edibles following decriminalization of marijuana in Michigan. Am J Emerg Med. 2020:S0735-6757(20)30872-X. PubMed

    Methotrexate

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Methotrexate. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Blood clots / Chest pain Worth acting on Additional detail

    Cannabis

    “Orally, edible cannabis products reported to contain 50 mg or more of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have been associated with myocardial infarction (MI) and ventricular arrhythmia. An epidemiological study in adults 18-74 years old suggests daily cannabis use is associated with a 25% increased odds of MI when compared with non-use, with lower odds for less than daily use, regardless of prior history of cigarette…”

    Cannabis · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arrhythmia.

    6 sources cited
    1. 103796. Monte AA, K Shelton SK, Mills E., Acute Illness Associated With Cannabis Use, by Route of Exposure: An Observational Study. Ann Intern Med. 2019 Apr 16;170(8):531-537. PubMed
    2. 113092. Jeffers AM, Glantz S, Byers AL, Keyhani S. Association of Cannabis Use With Cardiovascular Outcomes Among US Adults. J Am Heart Assoc. 2024 Mar 5;13(5):e030178. PubMed
    3. 91909. Mittleman MA, Lewis RA, Maclure M, Sherwood JB, Muller JE. Triggering myocardial infarction by marijuana. Circulation. 2001;103(23):2805-9. PubMed
    4. 61840. Cappelli, F., Lazzeri, C., Gensini, G. F., and Valente, S. Cannabis: a trigger for acute myocardial infarction? A case report. J Cardiovasc.Med.(Hagerstown.) 2008;9(7):725-728. PubMed
    5. 96378. Goyal H, Awad HH, Ghali JK. Role of cannabis in cardiovascular disorders. J Thorac Dis. 2017;9(7):2079-2092. PubMed
    6. 104491. Lawin D, Lawrenz T, Tego A, Stellbrink C. Cannabis-induced recurrent myocardial infarction in a 21-year-old man: a case report. Eur Heart J Case Rep. 2020;4(3):1-5. PubMed

    Methotrexate

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Methotrexate. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Pancreatitis Worth acting on Additional detail

    Cannabis

    “Small clinical studies suggest that smoking cannabis daily for 21 days increases caloric intake and causes weight gain in otherwise healthy adults who are heavy or casual cannabis smokers. It is thought that cannabinoids in cannabis increase appetite by influencing the endogenous endocannabinoid system.”

    Cannabis · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diabetes.

    6 sources cited
    1. 92671. Greenberg I, Kuehnle J, Mendelson JH, Bernstein JG. Effects of Marihuana use on body weight and caloric intake in humans. Psychopharmacol. 1976;49:79-84. PubMed
    2. 61847. Mushtaq, F., Mondelli, V., and Pariante, C. M. The metabolic implications of long term cannabis use in patients with psychosis. Epidemiol.Psichiatr.Soc. 2008;17(3):221-226. PubMed
    3. 113019. Reis MG, Ferreira AJF, Sohouli MH, Taimeirão DR, Vieira RAL, Guimarães NS. Effect of cannabis and subproducts on anthropometric measures: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Obes (Lond). 2024;48(1):44-54. PubMed
    4. 92672. Sansone RA, Sansone LA. Marijuana and body weight. Innov Clin Neurosci. 2014;11(7-8):50-4.
    5. 101489. Alshaarawy O, Anthony JC. Are cannabis users less likely to gain weight? Results from a national 3-year prospective study. Int J Epidemiol. 2019 Oct 1;48(5):1695-1700. PubMed
    6. 99574. Akturk HK, Taylor DD, Camsari UM, Rewers A, Kinney GL, Shah VN. Association Between Cannabis Use and Risk for Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes. JAMA Intern Med. 2018. PubMed

    Methotrexate

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Methotrexate. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • A severe skin reaction Worth acting on Additional detail

    Cannabis

    “Rarely, topical exposure to cannabis has resulted rarely in a rash and red, itchy skin. In addition, there are at least 4 reported cases of contact dermatitis and 6 cases of contact urticaria due to cannabis. One of these cases involved airborne allergic contact dermatitis confirmed with patch testing in a 25-year-old male within 30-60 minutes of smoking medical cannabis.”

    Cannabis · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

    5 sources cited
    1. 96389. Ocampo TL, Rans TS. Cannabis sativa: the unconventional "weed" allergen. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2015;114(3):187-92. PubMed
    2. 115374. Heyne S, Steininger J, Bauer A. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis to marijuana. Contact Dermatitis 2024. PubMed
    3. 112927. Fontane Hoyos CN, Boos J, Goldminz AM. Airborne allergic contact dermatitis to medical marijuana. Contact Dermatitis. 2024;90(1):89-91. PubMed
    4. 111078. Li J, Miller M, Abu Khalaf S, Nelson TB. Weeding out the culprit: Cannabinoid-associated Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Cureus 2023;15(5):e39454. PubMed
    5. 91918. Ozyurt S, Muderrisoglu F, Ermete M, Afsar F. Cannabis-induced erythema multiforme-like recurrent drug eruption. Int J Dermatol. 2014;53(1):e22-3. PubMed

    “Oral, topical, and occupational exposure to cannabis has been associated with reports of sensitization and allergic reactions. More than one allergen in cannabis may be responsible. Exposure to cannabis smoke can also cause nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and wheezing, possibly related to an allergic response in some individuals.

    Cases of topical and airborne contact dermatitis have been reported af…”

    Cannabis · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in asthma.

    6 sources cited
    1. 96389. Ocampo TL, Rans TS. Cannabis sativa: the unconventional "weed" allergen. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2015;114(3):187-92. PubMed
    2. 116450. Wasik J, Likonska A, Kurowski M. IgE-Mediated Allergy and Asymptomatic Sensitization to Cannabis Allergens-Review of Current Knowledge and Presentation of Six Cases. Medicina (Kaunas) 2024;60(6):954. PubMed
    3. 112927. Fontane Hoyos CN, Boos J, Goldminz AM. Airborne allergic contact dermatitis to medical marijuana. Contact Dermatitis. 2024;90(1):89-91. PubMed
    4. 115374. Heyne S, Steininger J, Bauer A. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis to marijuana. Contact Dermatitis 2024. PubMed
    5. 111078. Li J, Miller M, Abu Khalaf S, Nelson TB. Weeding out the culprit: Cannabinoid-associated Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Cureus 2023;15(5):e39454. PubMed
    6. 91918. Ozyurt S, Muderrisoglu F, Ermete M, Afsar F. Cannabis-induced erythema multiforme-like recurrent drug eruption. Int J Dermatol. 2014;53(1):e22-3. PubMed

    Methotrexate

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Methotrexate. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Seizures Worth acting on Additional detail

    Cannabis

    Recorded for Cannabis in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Pancreatitis above.

    Methotrexate

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Methotrexate. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Kidney problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    Cannabis

    “Acute kidney injury has been reported after oral cannabis use. In one case, it was likely caused by pre-existing mild dehydration related to a lack of fluid intake, followed by cannabis-induced diarrhea.”

    Cannabis · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    6 sources cited
    1. 111071. Moussa MK, Hall MAK, Akwe J. Cannabis-induced acute encephalopathy in a 94-year-old woman due to family administration of cannabidiol (CBD) products: A case report. Cureus 2023;15(4):e37927.
    2. 115363. Yang G, Li F, Wang Q, Liu Y, Guo J, Yue C. Association between history of cannabis use and outcomes after total hip or knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health 2024;12:1377688. PubMed
    3. 110240. Chabot C, Gouat F. Rare finding of acute eosinophilic pneumonia associated with heavy cannabis use: A case-report. Radiol Case Rep 2022;17(9):3040-3042. PubMed
    4. 99585. Nourbakhsh M, Miller A, Gofton J, Jones G, Adeagbo B. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Reports of Fatal Cases. J Forensic Sci. 2019;64(1):270-274. PubMed
    5. 101423. Chocron Y, Zuber JP, Vaucher J. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. BMJ. 2019 Jul 19;366:l4336. PubMed
    6. 101424. Kheifets M, Karniel E, Landa D, Vons SA, Meridor K, Charach G. Resolution of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome with Benzodiazepines: A Case Series. Isr Med Assoc J. 2019 Jun;21(6):404-407.

    Methotrexate

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Methotrexate. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Hives Worth acting on Additional detail

    Cannabis

    Recorded for Cannabis in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under A severe skin reaction above.

    Methotrexate

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Methotrexate. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Liver problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    Cannabis

    “There is at least one case of acute hepatitis likely related to the chronic use of cannabis.

    Intravenously, cannabis may cause toxic hepatitis.”

    Cannabis · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hepatitis.

    2 sources cited
    1. 110234. Abosheaishaa H, Nassar M, Haseeb Ul Rasool M, Makhoul K, Abdelwahed M. Marijuana-induced acute hepatitis: A case report. Cureus 2022;14(10):e30273. PubMed
    2. 61705. Payne, R. J. and Brand, S. N. The toxicity of intravenously used marihuana. JAMA 7-28-1975;233(4):351-354. DOI

    Methotrexate

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Methotrexate. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Showing the 10 most notable of 30 shared effects — ranked by how unusual each one is, not just whether both lists mention it.

Reported for Cannabis but not commonly for Methotrexate: a stroke or mini-stroke, an electrolyte imbalance, a heart attack and memory problems.

Effects for Methotrexate come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Cannabis come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 489,806 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Methotrexate that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Cannabis in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Unsafe

When used orally or inhaled. Constituents in cannabis pass through the placenta and can reduce fetal growth and increase the risk for preterm birth. Cannabis use during pregnancy is also associated with placental abruption, stillbirth, preterm delivery, fetal abnormalities, congenital birth defects of various organ systems, low birth weight, small for gestational age, increased need for neonatal intensive care, and childhood leukemia. Prenatal cannabis use has also been associated with long-term adverse developmental effects in the offspring, such as worsened cognition, increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and increased risk for psychological issues during adolescence. Due to the observational nature of these studies, it is unclear if cannabis causes these adverse effects. Umbilical artery Doppler scans also show that cannabis use can increase placental vascular resistance. Cannabis use during pregnancy has been associated with increased risk of anemia and hypertension in the mother. The rate of negative fetal outcomes due to cannabis use during pregnancy may have been previously underestimated due to reliance on maternal self-reporting of use. Recent programs requiring maternal urine toxicology testing have increased awareness of maternal cannabis use and suggest that negative fetal outcomes occur more frequently than previously recorded.

Lactation Likely Unsafe

When used orally or inhaled. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is concentrated and excreted in breast milk for longer than 6 weeks after cessation of cannabis use. Prolonged cannabis use during lactation has been associated with delayed motor development. Observational research in mothers who successfully abstained from cannabis use for 6 weeks (confirmed by a negative THC urine screen) after smoking cannabis prenatally at least twice weekly, found that THC levels in breastmilk increased during the first 2 weeks of abstinence and then decreased but remained detectable at 6 weeks. For patients planning to breastfeed, recommend abstaining from cannabis use prenatally and during lactation. Recommendations to discard breastmilk until THC levels are undetectable are not practical, as this may take more than 6 weeks.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

From our Q&A

Questions About Cannabis or Methotrexate

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Cannabis or Methotrexate, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Methotrexate

This page covers Cannabis only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Methotrexate page lists 82 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Apple (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).

By severity: 7 major · 60 moderate · 15 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Methotrexate page

“The liver is where methotrexate and supplements clash most. Methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Otrexup, Rasuvo), used for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and certain cancers, can strain the liver on its own, and 38 of the 82 interacting ingredients on this list add liver risk of their own, alcohol included, which makes this a list to approach…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Methotrexate interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Cannabis as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 21 real supplement products containing Cannabis, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Cannabis. Even though Cannabis itself has no known interaction with Methotrexate, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Cannabis and Methotrexate Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Cannabis
Top 25%

#215 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Methotrexate
Top 5%

#49 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Cannabis reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Cannabis and Methotrexate records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Cannabis

What is Cannabis?

Cannabis
  • Chronic pain
  • Nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy
  • Muscle spasticity (e.g., multiple sclerosis)
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Sleep problems
  • Appetite stimulation

Cannabis contains many active compounds, mainly THC (which causes a 'high') and CBD (which does not). Some uses, such as chemotherapy-related nausea, certain seizure disorders, and muscle spasticity, have meaningful evidence, while many other popular uses are not well proven. It can cause real side effects and impairment, so talk to your doctor or pharmacist and follow your local laws before using it.

Cannabis sativa · Cannabaceae · Dried flowers (buds), leaves, and extracted resins/oils · Dried flower for smoking or vaporizing, edibles, oils and tinctures, capsules, topical creams, prescription products (e.g., dronabinol, nabilone, cannabidiol)

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Cannabis is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Cannabis record says about it on its own.

Cannabis: dosing

There is no single standard dose for cannabis. The right amount depends on the product, its strength, the THC and CBD content, how it is taken, and the person using it. Products can vary a lot in potency, which makes consistent dosing difficult.A common harm-reduction approach is to 'start low and go slow,' meaning begin with a small amount and wait to see how it affects you before taking more. This is especially important with edibles, which can take an hour or more to work.For prescription cannabis-based medicines, follow your doctor's instructions exactly.

From our Cannabis monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Cannabis monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Methotrexate

What Is Methotrexate Used For?

Brand names: Rheumatrex, Otrexup, Rasuvo, Reditrex

Methotrexate treats a wide range of serious conditions. In cancer care, it is used for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, osteosarcoma, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (a rare tumor related to pregnancy). It is also used to prevent and treat meningeal leukemia (cancer affecting the lining of the brain and spinal cord).

Outside of cancer, methotrexate is prescribed for adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), children with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (a form of childhood arthritis), and adults with severe psoriasis that hasn't responded well to other treatments.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Methotrexate

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (489,806 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Rheumatoid arthritis 42,798 reports
Arthralgia 40,830 reports
Fatigue 33,049 reports
Nausea 28,999 reports
Joint swelling 25,026 reports
See full Methotrexate drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Cannabis

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Cannabis — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

2Major
1,109Moderate
25Minor
1,693No known interaction
2 Major 1,109 Moderate 25 Minor 1,693 No interaction
Major

2 interactions

Moderate

1,109 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,109 moderate interactions — see all 1,109 on the Cannabis page.

Minor

25 interactions

No interaction 1,693 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Cannabis against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,693 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Cannabis list.

See the full Cannabis interactions page
See every supplement checked against Methotrexate, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Cannabis References

The 261 references that drive our Cannabis monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Robbers JE, Speedie MK, Tyler VE. Pharmacognosy and Pharmacobiotechnology. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1996.
  2. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  3. Johnson MA, Robin P, Smith RP, Morrisona D, et al. Large lung bullae in marijuana smokers. Thorax 2000;55:340-2.. PubMed
  4. Hebel SK, ed. Drug Facts and Comparisons. 52nd ed. St. Louis: Facts and Comparisons, 1998.
  5. Tyrey L. Delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol: a potent inhibitor of episodic luteinizing hormone secretion. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1980;213:306-8. DOI
  6. Briggs GB, Freeman RK, Yaffe SJ. Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1998.
  7. Solowij N, Stephens RS, Roffman RA, et al. Cognitive functioning of long-term heavy cannabis users seeking treatment. JAMA 2002;287:1123-31.. PubMed
  8. Marinol Prescribing Information. Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Rev March 2008. Available at: http://www.solvaypharmaceuticals-us.com/static/wma/pdf/1/3/2/5/0/004InsertText500012RevMar2008.pdf (Accessed 2 July 2009).
  9. Yamreudeewong W, Wong HK, Brausch LM, Pulley KR. Probable interaction between warfarin and marijuana smoking. Ann Pharmacother 2009;43:1347-53. PubMed
  10. Ware MA, Wang T, Shapiro S, et al. Smoked cannabis for chronic neuropathic pain: a randomized controlled trial. CMAJ 2010;182:e694-e701. PubMed
  11. Pellinen, P., Honkakoski, P., Stenback, F., Niemitz, M., Alhava, E., Pelkonen, O., Lang, M. A., and Pasanen, M. Cocaine N-demethylation and the metabolism-related hepatotoxicity can be prevented by cytochrome P450 3A inhibitors. Eur.J Pharmacol 1-3-1994;2 PubMed
  12. Johnson, E. M. Substance abuse and women's health. Public Health Rep. 1987;102(4 Suppl):42-48.
  13. Astley, S. J. and Little, R. E. Maternal marijuana use during lactation and infant development at one year. Neurotoxicol.Teratol. 1990;12(2):161-168. PubMed
  14. Levy, R., Schurr, A., Nathan, I., Dvilanski, A., and Livne, A. Impairment of ADP-induced platelet aggregation by hashish components. Thromb.Haemost. 12-31-1976;36(3):634-640. DOI
  15. Payne, R. J. and Brand, S. N. The toxicity of intravenously used marihuana. JAMA 7-28-1975;233(4):351-354. DOI

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Cannabis and Methotrexate Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Cannabis with Methotrexate?
We do not list a known interaction between Cannabis and Methotrexate. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Cannabis and Methotrexate have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 10 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
How was the Cannabis and Methotrexate combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Methotrexate is filed under 6 classifications, and Cannabis has documented interactions with 18 drug classes — none of Methotrexate's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Cannabis interact with any other medications?
Yes. Cannabis has 1,136 documented drug interactions in our database — Methotrexate is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Methotrexate interact with any supplements?
Yes. Methotrexate has documented interactions with 82 supplements in our database — Cannabis is not one of them. The Methotrexate interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.