methotrexate vs piperacillin/tazobactam
Side-by-side comparison of methotrexate and piperacillin/tazobactam. 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
7.6 Methotrexate Limited data suggests that co-administration of methotrexate and piperacillin may reduce the clearance of methotrexate due to competition for renal secretion. The impact of tazobactam on the elimination of methotrexate has not been evaluated. If concurrent therapy is necessary, serum concentrations of methotrexate as well as the signs and symptoms of methotrexate toxicity should be frequently monitored.
Recommendation: Your doctor should check your blood levels of methotrexate and watch for signs of side effects more often.
Trexall, Otrexup
Zosyn
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.
Zosyn is a combination of two medicines, piperacillin and tazobactam. It is an antibiotic that fights bacterial infections.
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.
Zosyn treats several types of infections caused by bacteria. It can treat infections in the stomach area for adults and kids 2 months and older. It can also treat pneumonia that starts in the hospital for adults and kids 2 months and older. In adults, Zosyn can treat skin infections, infections in the female pelvis, and pneumonia that starts outside the hospital.
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.
Piperacillin kills bacteria. Tazobactam helps piperacillin work better by blocking enzymes that can break down piperacillin. This allows piperacillin to effectively fight the infection.
- • Mouth sores
- • Nausea
- • Abdominal pain
- • Changes in liver tests
- • Diarrhea
- • Constipation
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Trouble sleeping
- Rheumatoid arthritis 38,053
- Joint pain 36,283
- Pain 35,412
- Tiredness 29,061
- Feeling sick to your stomach 24,011
- Acute Kidney Injury 915
- Pyrexia 869
- Thrombocytopenia 471
- Drug Interaction 463
- Pneumonia 450
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.
Zosyn can cause severe allergic reactions. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash or trouble breathing. Zosyn can also cause severe skin reactions, blood problems, seizures, kidney problems, and severe diarrhea. If you have any of these, contact your doctor immediately.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Zosyn will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using Zosyn during pregnancy. It is also not known if Zosyn passes into breast milk.
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How to Read This methotrexate vs piperacillin/tazobactam Comparison
methotrexate is classified in the Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) drug class, while piperacillin/tazobactam sits within the Penicillin / Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor 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, methotrexate has 162,820 submissions while piperacillin/tazobactam has 3,168. 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 both drugs try to leave the body through the kidneys at the same time, which can slow down how fast methotrexate is removed from your system.. 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 methotrexate and piperacillin/tazobactam - 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.