Echinacea - Methotrexate Interaction

Interaction Details

Pharmacist Analysis

Methotrexate is primarily metabolized in the liver, where it undergoes hepatic transformation to inactive metabolites.

The metabolism of methotrexate involves several enzymes, including dihydrofolate reductase, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, and thymidylate synthase. Echinacea has not been shown to significantly affect the activity of these enzymes, which suggests that it is unlikely to have any clinically significant interactions with methotrexate.

However, it is important to note that methotrexate is a potent medication that requires careful monitoring and dosing adjustments. Patients taking methotrexate should always consult with their healthcare provider before taking any new medications, including herbal supplements like echinacea.

There is some evidence to suggest that the long-term use of echinacea can reduce liver function, but this has not been substantiated in large clinical trials. Nevertheless, as methotrexate can cause liver toxicity, it is important to be monitored if you take methotrexate with echinacea.

Methotrexate Overview

• Methotrexate is used to treat severe psoriasis (a skin disease in which red, scaly patches form on some areas of the body) that cannot be controlled by other treatments. Methotrexate is also used along with rest, physical therapy, and sometimes other medications to treat severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA; a condition in which the body attacks its own joints, causing pain, swelling, and loss of function) that cannot be controlled by certain other medications. Methotrexate is also used to treat certain types of cancer including cancers that begin in the tissues that form around a fertilized egg in the uterus, breast cancer, lung cancer, certain cancers of the head and neck, certain types of lymphoma, and leukemia (cancer that begins in the white blood cells). Methotrexate is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. Methotrexate treats cancer by slowing the growth of cancer cells. Methotrexate treats psoriasis by slowing the growth of skin cells to stop scales from forming. Methotrexate may treat rheumatoid arthritis by decreasing the activity of the immune system.

Echinacea - More Interactions

Echinacea interacts with 787 drugs

Interaction Rating Key

These severity listings are for informational use only. Never start, stop or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.