MTX for RA

diagram

Methotrexate treatment options

Methotrexate (MTX) is available as a pill that is taken orally and also as an injection that is taken under the skin, or subcutaneously. Most people start out taking MTX in pill form. For some, the pill option may not work as well as it should, or the pills may work at the start of treatment but then lose effectiveness over time. Therefore, some people may switch to an injectable option or an auto-injector form of MTX.

Taking injectable MTX gets more of the drug into the body. Ask your doctor about the different delivery and dosing options for MTX to find out which one is right for you.


  • MTX is currently the most frequently used rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug in the world
  • As many as 90% of patients with RA will take MTX at some point
  • It’s often the first drug prescribed for patients once they have been diagnosed with RA
  • No one knows exactly how MTX works, but it is thought to interfere with certain processes in your body that cause inflammation and joint damage. So MTX may relieve the joint pain, swelling, redness, and fatigue that you may experience when you have RA
  • Patients who switch from taking MTX as a pill to taking MTX as an injection (subcutaneously) may experience benefits, such as fewer side effects and a better response to treatment

What is Rasuvo® (methotrexate) injection?

Rasuvo is a single-dose auto-injector containing a prescription medicine, methotrexate. Methotrexate is used to:

Rasuvo should not be used for the treatment of cancer.

Rasuvo should not be used for the treatment of children with psoriasis.

Rasuvo is available in doses of 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25, and 30 mg. Your doctor will prescribe a different way to take methotrexate if you need to take methotrexate by mouth or in some other way.

Important Safety Information, Including Boxed Warning, for Rasuvo

What is the most important information I should know about Rasuvo?

This product includes the following Boxed Warning:

Rasuvo can cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including:

Organ system toxicity. People who use methotrexate for the treatment of cancer, psoriasis, or rheumatoid arthritis, have an increased risk of death from organ toxicity. Types of organ toxicity can include: gastrointestinal, nerve, bone marrow, lung, liver, kidneys, immune system, and skin.

Your doctor will do blood tests and other types of tests before you take and while you are taking Rasuvo to check for signs and symptoms of organ toxicity. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms of organ toxicity: vomiting, neck stiffness, diarrhea, paralysis, mouth sores, irritability, fever, sleepiness, confusion, problems with coordination, weakness, dry cough, temporary blindness, trouble breathing, seizures, severe skin rash, headache, and back pain.

Women who are pregnant are at increased risk for death of the baby and for birth defects in the baby. Women who are pregnant or who plan to become pregnant must not take Rasuvo. A pregnancy test should be performed before starting Rasuvo. Contraception should be used by both females and males while taking Rasuvo. Pregnancy should be avoided if either partner is receiving Rasuvo:

  • for a minimum of 3 months after treatment with Rasuvo for males.
  • during and for at least 1 menstrual cycle after treatment with Rasuvo for females.

What are the possible side effects of Rasuvo?

Rasuvo may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Fertility problems. Methotrexate, the active ingredient in Rasuvo, may affect your ability to have a baby. Males may have a decreased sperm count, and females may have changes to their menstrual cycle. This can happen while taking Rasuvo and for a short period of time after you stop.
  • Certain cancers. Some people who have taken methotrexate have had a certain type of cancer called Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other tumors. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking Rasuvo if this happens.
  • Tissue and bone problems. Taking methotrexate while having radiation therapy may increase the risk of your tissue or bone not receiving enough blood. This may lead to death of the tissue or bone.

Common side effects of Rasuvo include: nausea, stomach pain, indigestion (dyspepsia), mouth sores, and rash.


Who should not take Rasuvo?

Do not take Rasuvo if you:


What should I tell my doctor before taking Rasuvo?

Before you take Rasuvo, tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions. Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Rasuvo may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Rasuvo works, causing side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of medicines if you are not sure.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of Rasuvo. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

For additional information about Rasuvo, please refer to the Patient Information Leaflet and Instructions for Use, which can be found at www.rasuvo.com or call 1-855-336-3322.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.