Abstract
Methotrexate is an antineoplastic drug which acts as an antimetabolite of folic acid. The latter is needed for the formation of tetra-hydrofolate, a cofactor necessary in cell division for synthesis of DNA and RNA. A 7-hydroxy metabolite is formed in the liver which is excreted with the parent compound mostly in urine. There is inter-individual variation in the pharmacokinetics of methotrexate. Plasma half-life varies from 4 to 10 hours. Toxicity is associated with a plasma concentration >4.5 μg/ml after 24 hours or > 0.45 μg/ml after 48 hours. When over-dosage occurs, the immediate toxic effects can be reversed by administration of folinic acid.
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© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Wilson, J.F. (1995). Methotrexate. In: Wilson, J.F. (eds) Drugs Eicosanoids. Immunoassay Kit Directory, vol 1 / 3 / 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0679-5_32
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0679-5_32
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-8863-0
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-0679-5
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