adalimumab vs methotrexate
Side-by-side comparison of adalimumab and methotrexate. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
( 5.10 , 7.3 ) 7.1 Methotrexate Adalimumab has been studied in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients taking concomitant methotrexate (MTX).
Recommendation: Your doctor will monitor your condition while you take both of these medications together.
Humira
Trexall, Otrexup
Idacio is a medicine that blocks a protein called TNF. It is used to treat several diseases, including arthritis and Crohn's disease.
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.
Idacio can help adults with rheumatoid arthritis by reducing joint pain and damage. It can also help children (2 years and older) with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Idacio treats psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa and uveitis.
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.
Idacio works by blocking a protein in your body called tumor necrosis factor (TNF). TNF can cause inflammation and damage in certain diseases. By blocking TNF, Idacio can reduce these symptoms.
Methotrexate blocks an enzyme called dihydrofolate reductase. This enzyme is needed for cells to grow and multiply. By blocking this enzyme, methotrexate slows down the growth of cells, especially cancer cells and cells that cause inflammation in arthritis and psoriasis.
- • Infections (like colds or sinus infections)
- • Injection site reactions (redness, itching, pain, or swelling)
- • Headache
- • Rash
- • Mouth sores
- • Nausea
- • Abdominal pain
- • Changes in liver tests
- Pain 49,062
- Joint pain 48,041
- Pain at the injection site 47,251
- Tiredness 39,113
- Rheumatoid arthritis 35,571
- Rheumatoid arthritis 38,053
- Joint pain 36,283
- Pain 35,412
- Tiredness 29,061
- Feeling sick to your stomach 24,011
Idacio can increase your risk of serious infections that could lead to hospitalization or death. Tell your doctor if you have any infections before starting Idacio. Idacio may also increase your risk of certain cancers, including lymphoma. Children and teens taking TNF blockers like Idacio have developed rare, aggressive cancers.
Methotrexate can cause serious harm to an unborn baby, including death. If you are pregnant, you should not take this medicine for non-cancer conditions. If you are taking it for cancer, talk to your doctor about the risks. This medicine can also cause severe allergic reactions and other serious side effects that can be life-threatening. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any signs of infection, lung problems, or kidney problems.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Idacio can cross the placenta and may affect your baby's immune system. Talk to your doctor about vaccines for your baby if you took Idacio during pregnancy.
Methotrexate can cause birth defects or fetal death if taken during pregnancy for non-cancer conditions. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor. Do not breastfeed while taking methotrexate, as it can pass into breast milk and harm your baby.
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How to Read This adalimumab vs methotrexate Comparison
adalimumab is classified in the TNF-Alpha Inhibitor (Biologic) drug class, while methotrexate sits within the Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, adalimumab has 219,038 submissions while methotrexate has 162,820. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these two drugs are often used together to treat joint pain, and methotrexate can help the body accept the other medicine better.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between adalimumab and methotrexate - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.