Update: Methotrexate Shortage
1/13/2005
A story in the January 2005 issue of Rheumatology News reports that the shortage of injectable methotrexate could last for the next few months. This is contrary to the original statements by Bedford Laboratories, who recently said that their 50mg, 8&10 ml vials of preservative free injectables of methotrexate would be available on December 29, 2004 and that the 200mg, 8&10 ml vials will not be available until January 30, 2005.
American Pharmaceutical Partners, the primary manufacturer of the methotrexate injectable, had also originally hoped to have the medicine back on the market between the 3rd and 4th week of December, 2004.
Oral methotrexate is not currently affected by the shortage.
Although Canadian methotrexate has been approved for sale here in the US by the Food and Drug Administration in order to help with the shortage, the FDA's drug shortage coordinator, Mark Goldberger, M.D., says that the Canadian supplies are not enough to fully meet the current demand. Click here to read the report by Rheumatology News.
Methotrexate is a chemotherapy drug that is also used to treat lymphomas and leukemia, but in the case of AS, given in much lower doses via injection or taken orally.
If you are currently taking methotrexate and have concerns about the shortage, we suggest that you speak with your physician. Click here to read our intial report on the methotrexate shortage.