More than 900,000 people in the U.S. take methotrexate, often as a first-line treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It’s also used at much higher doses to treat some forms of cancer. It is known as a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD), because it not only decreases the pain and swelling of arthritis, but it also can prevent damage to joints and long-term disability. Methotrexate comes either as pills or as a subcutaneous injection. Learn about the side effects of methotrexate, from common to rare, for consumers and healthcare professionals. Methotrexate, formerly known as amethopterin, is a chemotherapy agent and immune-system suppressant. It is used to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases, and ectopic pregnancies. Methotrexate is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. Methotrexate treats cancer by slowing the growth of cancer cells. Methotrexate treats psoriasis by slowing the growth of skin cells to stop scales from forming. Based on published reports of female infertility after methotrexate, advise females of reproductive potential that methotrexate can cause impairment of fertility and menstrual dysfunction. Overview: Methotrexate is used to treat certain types of arthritis, cancer, and severe psoriasis. Common side effects include nausea or vomiting, upset stomach, and mouth sores. Serious side. Methotrexate interferes with the growth of certain cells of the body, especially cells that reproduce quickly, such as cancer cells, bone marrow cells, and skin cells. Methotrexate is used to treat leukemia and certain types of cancer of the breast, skin, head and neck, lung, or uterus. Methotrexate is a type of drug called an antimetabolite. It treats rheumatoid arthritis by decreasing the activity of your immune system, treats psoriasis by slowing the growth of skin cells and treats cancer by slowing the growth of cancer cells. Methotrexate tablet is used alone or together with other medicines to treat several types of cancer, such as breast, head and neck, lung, blood (eg, acute lymphoblastic leukemia or ALL), bone, lymph node (eg, mycosis fungoides, relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma), or uterus cancer.