Folotyn vs. Methotrexate for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Important Differences and Potential Risks.

Folotyn

(pralatrexate)

Methotrexate

Summary for Folotyn

Prescription only

Folotyn (pralatrexate) is used to treat adults with a blood cancer called peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). It’s a chemotherapy medication known as an antimetabolite. This medication is given as an injection into the vein (also called an intravenous or IV). It’s given by a trained healthcare professional at a clinic or cancer center. You need vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation before and during treatment. This helps manage side effects such as low blood cells and mouth sores.

Indications for Folotyn

Relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL)

Pros and Cons for Folotyn

Pros

Recommended option for PTCL when other treatments haven’t worked
Injection only take 5 minutes
Low risk of hair loss

Cons

Given as an injection into a vein
Often causes mouth sores and nausea
Requires vitamin supplements (daily prescription folic acid tablets and periodic vitamin B12 shots) to prevent side effects

Common Side Effects for Folotyn

Mouth sores (70%)
Low platelets (41%)
Nausea (40%)
Tiredness (36%)
Anemia (low red blood cells, 34%)
Constipation (33%)
Fever (32%)
Swelling (30%)
Cough (28%)
Nosebleeds (26%)
Vomiting (25%)
Low white blood cells (24%)
Diarrhea (21%)

Warnings for Folotyn

Low blood cell counts
Mouth sores
Serious skin reactions
Tumor lysis syndrome
Liver problems
Higher risk of side effects in people with severe kidney problems
Harm to an unborn baby

Summary for Methotrexate

Prescription only

Methotrexate is a chemotherapy medication that’s used to treat many different types of cancer, including leukemia, osteosarcoma, and head and neck cancer, among others. This medication is also used to treat some non-cancer conditions, such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Methotrexate is given as an injection. For low doses, you can sometimes get injections at a brief visit to the provider’s office. But for higher doses, you might need to stay in the hospital for a couple days. Methotrexate side effects include low white blood cells, mouth sores, and nervous system problems.

Indications for Methotrexate

Cancer:

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); given with other chemotherapy
Treatment and prevention of meningeal leukemia
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)
Osteosarcoma; given with other chemotherapy
Breast cancer; given with other chemotherapy
Head and neck cancer
Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN); given with other chemotherapy

Non-cancer conditions:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA)
Psoriasis

Pros and Cons for Methotrexate

Pros

Recommended treatment for many cancer types and other conditions
Doesn’t typically cause hair loss
Available as a lower-cost generic

Cons

Typically given as an injection by a healthcare provider
Might cause serious kidney problems, especially when given at high doses
Can raise your risk for serious infections

Common Side Effects for Methotrexate

Mouth sores
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
Tiredness
Dizziness
Chills
Fever
Infection
Higher liver enzyme levels in blood
Low white blood cells
Low platelet levels

Warnings for Methotrexate

Harm to unborn baby
Allergic reaction
Contains potentially harmful preservative
Low blood cell counts
Serious infections
Kidney damage
Liver damage
Serious nervous system problems
Damage to the digestive tract
Lung problems
Serious skin problems (including skin burns)
Effect on folic acid levels in the body
Risk for new cancers
Tumor lysis syndrome
Changes to your ability to have children (infertility)
Risks with radiation therapy
Higher risk for side effects if you have extra body fluid
Risk of serious side effects with dosing errors

Prices with our coupons for Folotyn vs. Methotrexate

Folotyn1 vial / 2ml of 40mg/2ml

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Methotrexate24 tablets / 2.5mg

$13.46$28.82

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Folotyn vs. Methotrexate

Folotyn

Methotrexate

Summary for Folotyn

Indications for Folotyn

Pros and Cons for Folotyn

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Folotyn

Warnings for Folotyn

Summary for Methotrexate

Indications for Methotrexate

Pros and Cons for Methotrexate

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Methotrexate

Warnings for Methotrexate

Prices with our coupons for Folotyn vs. Methotrexate

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Folotyn

Methotrexate

Summary for Folotyn

Indications for Folotyn

Pros and Cons for Folotyn

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Folotyn

Warnings for Folotyn

Summary for Methotrexate

Indications for Methotrexate

Pros and Cons for Methotrexate

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Methotrexate

Warnings for Methotrexate