Alternatives to methotrexate
FDA shortage status is active for methotrexate; 3 same-class SPL records are listed below for registry comparison only.
Brand: Trexall, Otrexup
methotrexate class peers while FDA lists an active shortage
methotrexate (Trexall, Otrexup) is on an FDA shortage listing while 3 other Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) SPL records remain in this registry peer set (class inventory 4). Labeled indication field for methotrexate: Methotrexate can treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of cancer, in adults and children.
Top FAERS reaction fields for methotrexate total 263,516 reports across 10 reactions, set beside hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide, sulfasalazine. Counts are exposure-weighted submissions, not per-patient risk.
About methotrexate
Methotrexate is a drug that can treat certain cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and other conditions. It works by slowing the growth of cells in the body.
Used for: Methotrexate can treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of cancer, in adults and children. It also treats mycosis fungoides, a skin lymphoma, in adults. Additionally, it treats relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults. For non-cancer conditions, it treats rheumatoid arthritis in adults, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) in children, and severe psoriasis in adults.
3 Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) peers (wide set)
hydroxychloroquine
RxPlaquenil
This medicine can treat uncomplicated malaria caused by certain parasites. It can also prevent malaria in areas where the parasites are not resistant to the drug. Hydroxychloroquine also treats rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and chronic discoid lupus erythematosus.
leflunomide
RxArava
Leflunomide treats active rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. This medicine can help reduce these symptoms.
sulfasalazine
RxAzulfidine
Sulfasalazine treats ulcerative colitis, a condition that causes inflammation and sores in the lining of the large intestine. It can help with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. It can also be used with other treatments for severe ulcerative colitis. This medicine can also help keep ulcerative colitis from coming back.
methotrexate vs hydroxychloroquine & leflunomide · FAERS reaction fields
FAERS top-reaction field "Arthralgia" shows the widest count spread between methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide, sulfasalazine in this extract (19,342-report gap on that field). Counts are exposure-weighted submissions, not prevalence rates.
| Side Effect | methotrexate | hydroxychloroquine | leflunomide | sulfasalazine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | 38,053 | 12,921 | 24,923 | 19,190 |
| Arthralgia | 36,283 | 9,276 | 16,941 | 13,161 |
| Pain | 35,413 | 10,409 | 20,055 | 15,658 |
| Fatigue | 29,061 | 8,853 | 15,384 | 13,017 |
| Nausea | 24,009 | 6,584 | 10,126 | 8,384 |
| Joint Swelling | 22,294 | 8,528 | 15,567 | 12,481 |
| Headache | 20,815 | 5,900 | - | - |
| Rash | 19,771 | 7,370 | 13,321 | 10,678 |
"-" means no reports for that reaction. Report counts reflect total FAERS submissions, not prevalence rates.
methotrexate shortage vs Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) peer index
Shortage status
FDA shortage listing is active for methotrexate (status: Current). Peer rows remain a registry index, not a switch guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does FDA list a shortage for methotrexate while peers remain indexed? ▼
Registry note: Shortage listings and peer indexes are for registry orientation only. This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Do not stop or change your medication without talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
Field note for methotrexate: see also the generic vs brand label guide when reading Trexall SPL strings.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.