Rheumatology - Rheumatology Blood Monitoring Clinic - Methotrexate tablets

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This leaflet should provide you with all the information you need to ensure that your Methotrexate tablets are prescribed and monitored appropriately.

You will first attend the Drug Education Clinic. For any appointments at this clinic, you will need to report to the main outpatient reception then make your way to outpatient area 4.

The following information will be shared with you:

□    Risks and benefits of treatment
□    Provision of a Versus Arthritis UK patient leaflet
□    Blood test/chest X-ray confirmed and satisfactory
□    Importance of blood monitoring and schedule:
•    Every 2 weeks for 10 weeks after starting your medication
•    Then Monthly for 3 months
•    Then every 3 months after this
 
□    Provision of a prescription for 2 months. Please take your prescription to the hospital Lloyds pharmacy located next to the main desk, Hope Building to be dispensed

□    The antibiotics Trimethoprim and Cotrimoxazole (Septrin®) should be avoided whilst on Methotrexate

□    Useful links:

Versus Arthritis
http://www.versusarthritis.org

National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society
http://www.nras.org.uk/

□    Follow up Drug Education Clinic appointment 7 weeks after starting treatment and another 8 weeks prescription will be issued
 
After attending your Drug Education Clinic, you will then commence your blood monitoring. For this clinic you will report directly to Area 4 in outpatients without booking at the main outpatient reception.

Blood Monitoring Clinics are open Monday to Friday 8.40am – 12pm (morning clinic) and 1pm - 5pm (afternoon clinic). It is your responsibility to make sure you have Blood Monitoring Clinic appointments arranged.

Please ensure you bring this leaflet with you to all your appointments and that you attend your allocated Blood Monitoring Clinic appointments, avoiding any changes to your appointments. If you do not attend your blood monitoring appointments, we will not be able to continue to prescribe your medication.

The blood monitoring schedule may change if your blood tests are abnormal or any changes in your medication and you will be contacted over the phone to discuss this. Some medications do have a different schedule to this, and this will have been discussed when you started your medication.

You will also commence folic acid tablets whilst on Methotrexate. If clinically required, you may be advised to increase the dose of these tablets but this will be discussed with you.

Once your treatment and blood tests are stable (normally after 3-4 months), then we will write to your GP and ask if they can take over the prescription and monitoring of your drug as per schedule. For any prescription queries, please contact our prescription co-ordinator on 0161 206 8457.

Drug Education Clinic

Methotrexate 2.5mg tablets

Blood Monitoring

Blood Monitoring 

Useful contact numbers:

Blood test appointments 0161 206 2339
9am - 12noon Monday to Friday

Prescription queries 0161 206 8457

Rheumatology advice line 0161 524 1428:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
Opening times are at the top right-hand corner of your clinic letter

The Rheumatology Consultant’s secretary:
Prof. Dixon/Dr Harrison/Dr Jani/Dr Ayub - 0161 206 1082
Prof. O'Neill/Dr Low - 0161 206 4627
Dr Samaranayaka/Dr Hughes - 0161 206 4264
Dr Kamath/Prof. Chinoy/Dr Lilleker - 0161 206 7048