Methotrexate Sodium
75,169 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA (2004–2026)
Top Reported Adverse Events
The most frequently reported events in association with Methotrexate Sodium in the FAERS database. These are events reported by patients taking this medication, not necessarily caused by it. A single report may include multiple events.
Show these terms with plain-language definitions
Tap any term below for a plain-language definition.
Drug Ineffective 19,648 reports
A report that the medication did not work as expected for the person taking it. This is a reporting category, not a sign the drug is defective. It simply means someone felt it was not helping their condition.
Full definition in the glossary →Drug Hypersensitivity 7,812 reports
An allergic-type reaction to a medication.
Full definition in the glossary →Off Label Use 6,393 reports
Using a medication for a condition or in a way that the FDA has not officially approved. This is common and often legal, and a report of it does not mean something went wrong. Doctors sometimes prescribe drugs off label based on their judgment.
Full definition in the glossary →Rheumatoid Arthritis 5,651 reports
An autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling. It often appears in reports because it is a condition being treated, not always a reaction.
Full definition in the glossary →Drug Intolerance 5,620 reports
A report that the person could not tolerate a medication, often due to uncomfortable effects.
Full definition in the glossary →Nausea 5,304 reports
The feeling of sickness in your stomach that often comes before vomiting.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Arthralgia 5,031 reports
Pain 5,024 reports
A general report of physical discomfort, used when no more specific location is given.
Full definition in the glossary →Condition Aggravated 4,662 reports
A report that the person's existing health condition got worse. This describes a worsening of something the person already had, not necessarily a new problem caused by the drug.
Full definition in the glossary →Fatigue 4,486 reports
Extreme tiredness or lack of energy that does not improve with rest.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Joint Swelling 3,536 reports
Swelling in or around a joint.
Full definition in the glossary →Treatment Failure 3,306 reports
A report that the treatment did not produce the expected result. Similar to drug ineffective, it reflects that someone felt the treatment was not working.
Full definition in the glossary →Alopecia 3,246 reports
Rash 3,190 reports
An area of irritated, red, or bumpy skin.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Diarrhoea 2,799 reports
Loose or watery bowel movements, often frequent. Also spelled diarrhea in American English.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →
Ranked by frequency of reports, not severity. The most-reported event is not necessarily the most dangerous or the most common in patients taking this drug.
Who Is Reporting
Demographics of patients in FAERS reports that included this information. Not all reports include patient demographics.
By Sex
View reporter sex data as a table
| Sex | Reports |
|---|---|
| Female | 51,471 |
| Male | 18,757 |
| Unknown | 58 |
By Age Group
View age group data as a table
| Age group | Reports |
|---|---|
| 0-17 | 4,219 |
| 18-34 | 4,190 |
| 35-49 | 9,958 |
| 50-64 | 21,279 |
| 65-74 | 13,569 |
| 75+ | 6,700 |
This shows who filed reports, reflecting who takes this drug and who tends to report, not who is at greatest risk.
Reported Outcomes
Outcomes recorded in FAERS reports that included Methotrexate Sodium. A single report may involve multiple reactions, each with a different outcome. These categories are defined by FDA reporting guidelines, not by PillSignal.
View outcome data as a table
| Outcome | Reports |
|---|---|
| Other Serious | 37,269 |
| Non-Serious | 28,511 |
| Hospitalization | 15,691 |
| Death | 4,343 |
| Life-Threatening | 3,669 |
| Disability | 2,395 |
Serious outcomes are far more likely to be reported than mild ones, so this overstates how often outcomes are serious. A recorded death does not mean the drug caused it.
Report Volume Over Time
Number of FAERS reports received per quarter for Methotrexate Sodium. Changes in volume may reflect shifts in prescribing rates, media attention, or reporting behavior, not changes in the medication's safety profile.
View report trend as a table
| Year | Reports |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 767 |
| 2005 | 506 |
| 2006 | 181 |
| 2007 | 248 |
| 2008 | 267 |
| 2009 | 263 |
| 2010 | 162 |
| 2011 | 385 |
| 2012 | 682 |
| 2013 | 772 |
| 2014 | 513 |
| 2015 | 1,132 |
| 2016 | 4,126 |
| 2017 | 10,225 |
| 2018 | 12,492 |
| 2019 | 9,175 |
| 2020 | 6,836 |
| 2021 | 4,865 |
| 2022 | 6,012 |
| 2023 | 5,997 |
| 2024 | 5,139 |
| 2025 | 3,828 |
| 2026 (partial) | 596 |
The steep increase around 2004 reflects the FDA's move to electronic submission, not a change in this drug's safety. Trends track reporting volume, not risk.
Medications commonly reported with Methotrexate Sodium
In FDA adverse event reports that mention Methotrexate Sodium, these medications appeared most often in the same report.
- Etanercept (15,516 reports)
- Adalimumab (12,039 reports)
- Prednisone (10,988 reports)
- Folic Acid (9,586 reports)
- Leflunomide (9,328 reports)
This reflects co-occurrence in submitted reports, not evidence of drug interaction or combined risk. People often report several medications taken for the same condition or for unrelated reasons. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your specific medications.
Related Drugs
Other medications with similar adverse event profiles in FDA FAERS reports.
Data Source
This data is sourced from the FDA's Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS), formerly FAERS, via the OpenFDA API. PillSignal is not affiliated with the FDA.
View this data on the FDA website →Data last updated: June 2026