How long does methotrexate stay in your system?
The estimated length of time it takes for methotrexate to be removed from your body is:
- For low dose methotrexate ranges from 16.5 hours to 55 hours.
- For high dose methotrexate ranges from 44 hours to 82.5 hours.
The length of time it takes for a medicine to be removed from your body depends on the drug's elimination half-life. It takes 5.5 x elimination half-life for most of a medicine to be removed from your system.
For low dose methotrexate the half life range is 3 to 10 hours so
- 3 hours X 5.5 = 16.5 hours.
- 10 hours X 5.5 hours = 55 hours.
- Therefore for the estimated elimination time range for low dose methotrexate is 16.5 hours to 55 hours.
For high dose methotrexate the half life range is 8 to 15 hours so
- 8 hours X 5.5 hours = 44 hours.
- 15 hours X 5.5 hours = 82.5 hours.
- Therefore the estimated elimination time range for high dose methotrexate is 44 hours to 82.5 hours.
Elimination times are an estimate and can vary due to patient-specific variables and drug-specific variables including:
- How much and how often you have taken the drug.
- Your metabolic rate – a slower metabolism will increase the time a drug remains in your system and a faster metabolism will decrease the time a drug remains in your system.
- Your age and health issues – older age and poor health may change the time the drug says in your system.
- Body mass.
- Drug formulation, way of administration, pharmacokinetics, volume of distribution etc.
References
- Methotrexate Medication Information: https://www.drugs.com/methotrexate.html
- Methotrexate Healthcare Professional Information: https://www.drugs.com/monograph/methotrexate.html
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Drug information
- Methotrexate Information for Consumers
- Methotrexate prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Methotrexate (detailed)
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