Two medicines, side by side
Methylprednisolone vs methotrexate
Methylprednisolone and methotrexate are both labeled for leukemia and lymphoma and myeloma. Drugs@FDA records approvals of methylprednisolone since 1957 and of methotrexate since 1953. Pharmacies paid $0.121 per methylprednisolone 4 mg tablet and $0.158 per methotrexate 2.5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Methylprednisolone's other strengths are brand-only: $6.28 per Solu-medrol 40 mg vial. Methotrexate's other strengths are brand-only: $21.76 per mL (Xatmep 2.5 mg/mL oral solution). In FDA's classes, methylprednisolone is a corticosteroid and methotrexate a folate analog metabolic inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the methylprednisolone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 22, 2026); the methotrexate FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 27, 2026).
Highlights of the methylprednisolone record
Methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) · label of June 22, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsMethylprednisolone tablets are indicated in the following conditions: 1. Endocrine Disorders Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the first choice; synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy, mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 24, 1957
- Generic labelers
- 35 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.121 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 46
Highlights of the methotrexate record
Methotrexate (Rasuvo) · label of May 27, 2026
EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY, HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS, SEVERE ADVERSE REACTIONS, and RISK OF MEDICATION ERRORS Methotrexate Tablets can cause embryo-fetal toxicity, including fetal death. For non-neoplastic diseases, Methotrexate Tablets is contraindicated in pregnancy. For neoplastic diseases, advise females and males of reproductive potential to use effective contraception [see Contraindications (4), Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Use in Specific Populations (8.1 , 8.3) ].
Used for
From the label: indicationsMethotrexate tablets is a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor indicated for the: Treatment of adults and pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as part of a combination chemotherapy maintenance regimen ( 1.1 ) Treatment of adults with mycosis fungoides ( 1.1 ) Treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma as part of a metronomic combination regimen ( 1.1 ) Treatment of adults […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 7, 1953
- Generic labelers
- 29 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.158 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 8
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Methylprednisolone label of June 22, 2026, Methotrexate label of May 27, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do methylprednisolone and methotrexate differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, methylprednisolone is a corticosteroid and methotrexate a folate analog metabolic inhibitor.
Only the methotrexate label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: methylprednisolone since 1978; methotrexate since 1979 (Drugs@FDA).
| Methylprednisolone | Methotrexate | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Osteoarthritis, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Anemia | Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Breast cancer |
| Pharmacologic class | Corticosteroid | Folate Analog Metabolic Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Methotrexate inhibits dihydrofolic acid reductase. Dihydrofolates must be reduced to tetrahydrofolates by this enzyme before they can be utilized as carriers of one-carbon groups in the synthesis of purine nucleotides and thymidylate. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | Elimination The elimination half-life of methotrexate is approximately 3 to 10 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 24, 1957 | December 7, 1953 |
| First generic approved | March 28, 1978 | September 5, 1979 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 35 labelers | 29 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.121 per tablet (Methylprednisolone 4 mg tablet) | $0.158 per tablet (Methotrexate 2.5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -22% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | In shortage | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 46 | 8 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 170,232 | 489,791 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Methotrexate label, drug interactionsOral antibiotics (including neomycin) Antifolate drugs (e.g., dapsone, pemetrexed, pyrimethamine and sulfonamides) Oral or intravenous penicillin or sulfonamide antibiotics Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Highly protein-bound drugs (e.g., oral anticoagulants, phenytoin, salicylates, sulfonamides, sulfonylureas, and tetracyclines) Hepatotoxic products Proton pump inhibitors Weak acids (e.g. …
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to methylprednisolone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions