Compare Aralen vs. Methotrexate
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.
Key takeaways
Chloroquine (generic name: chloroquine) and Methotrexate (generic name: methotrexate) are both prescription medications, but they serve very different purposes. Chloroquine, an anti-malarial agent, is primarily used to prevent and treat malaria and certain parasitic infections. It is taken orally and is available as a lower-cost generic. Methotrexate, on the other hand, is an antimetabolite used to treat various types of cancer, such as leukemia and breast cancer, as well as non-cancer conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Methotrexate is administered through injections and also comes in a generic form. While chloroquine can be taken by children and pregnant women under certain conditions, methotrexate is not safe during pregnancy and requires careful monitoring due to its potential for serious side effects, including kidney and liver damage. Additionally, methotrexate can cause low blood cell counts and serious infections, whereas chloroquine's notable risks include heart rhythm problems and vision changes.
- ChloroquineMethotrexate (Trexall)
- ChloroquineMethotrexate (Trexall)
Summary of Aralen vs. Methotrexate
Summary for Anti-malarial agentPrescription onlyChloroquine works well to prevent and treat certain types of malaria. But it can cause serious side effects, such as heart rhythm problems.
Summary for AntimetabolitePrescription onlyMethotrexate (Trexall) belongs to a drug class called antimetabolites. It’s used as chemotherapy at high doses to kill cancer cells and treat different cancers, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). At lower doses, methotrexate (Trexall) is considered a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) that treats certain non-cancer conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This medication is a tablet that you take by mouth. For most conditions, it’s taken once a week, but for some, it’s taken more often than that. Methotrexate (Trexall) side effects include mouth sores, nausea, and stomach upset.
Indications of Aralen vs. Methotrexate
Indications for•Treatment of uncomplicated malaria•Prevention of malaria in areas of the world where there's no chloroquine resistance•Extraintestinal amebiasis (a type of parasitic infection)Indications forCancer:
•Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adults and children; given with other chemotherapy•Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in adults; given by itself or with other chemotherapy•Advanced non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults; given with other chemotherapyNon-cancer conditions:
•Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults•Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) in children•Severe psoriasis in adultsPros and Cons of Aralen vs. Methotrexate
Pros and Const for Anti-malarial agentPros•Generally safe to use for malaria prevention and treatment during pregnancy•Can be taken by children•Can take with or without food•Available as a lower-cost genericCons•Should be taken 2 weeks before traveling to an area with malaria, compared to some alternatives that can be taken 1-2 days before•Only works well against malaria from certain areas of the world•Can't treat severe malaria•Can worsen conditions, such as psoriasis or seizuresPros and Const for AntimetabolitePros•Taken by mouth, so a good option for people who don’t like needles•A non-steroidal option for autoimmune conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis)•Doesn’t typically cause hair loss or weight gainCons•Might cause nausea and mouth sores•Can raise your risk for infection•Requires regular office visits and lab tests to check for serious side effectsCommon Side Effects of Aralen vs. Methotrexate
Common Side Effects for•Nausea•Vomiting•Diarrhea•Stomach cramps•Headache•Rash•ItchingCommon Side Effects for•Mouth sores•Nausea or vomiting•Diarrhea•Stomach upset•Dizziness•Tiredness•Chills•Fever•Infection•Higher liver enzyme levels in the blood•Low white blood cells•Low platelet levelsWarnings of Aralen vs. Methotrexate
Common Side Effects for•Heart problems•Low blood sugar•Muscle weakness and nerve problems•Worsening of psoriasis and porphyria•Hearing damage•Low blood counts•Liver or kidney damage•Seizures•Serious eye damageCommon Side Effects for•Harm to unborn baby•Allergic reaction•Low blood cell counts•Damage to the digestive tract•Liver damage•Lung problems•Serious skin problems (including skin burns)•Kidney damage•Risk of serious side effects with dosing errors•Effect on folic acid levels in the body•Serious infections•Serious nervous system problems•Risk for new cancers•Tumor lysis syndrome•Changes to your ability to have children (infertility)•Higher risk for side effects if you have extra body fluidPrices with our coupons for Aralen vs. Methotrexate
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