How Methotrexate Works

• Methotrexate belongs to a class of medications called immunomodulators, which are drugs that intentionally weaken the immune system. This may seem counterintuitive, but it can help ulcerative colitis patients. Your body's immune system responds to ulcers as a foreign material, causing inflammation and a heightened immune system. This kind of response is normal and healthy when responding to a temporary foreign material, such as a bacterial infection. Due to the chronic nature of ulcerative colitis, this response causes a constant level of heightened immune activity. Methotrexate relaxes the immune system, chemically obstructing the function of proteins and cells used to fight foreign entities. By reducing the immune response to the ulcers, swelling and symptoms are decreased.
  
  

Indications for Treatment

• Methotrexate may be recommended if you have ulcerative colitis in conjunction with Chron's disease. It is also beneficial for patients who are unresponsive to other forms of treatment, such as anti-inflammatory corticosteroids.
  
  

Side Effects

• Since methotrexate is an immunomodulator, there is a complication of weakening the immune system, which can lead to a dangerously low white blood cell count. The most dangerous potential side effect of methotrexate is cirrhosis of the liver, which can develop after years of steady treatment. If you suffer from alcoholism or obesity, your risk of developing cirrhosis is significantly higher. To avoid developing this condition, some patients receive yearly biopsies of liver tissue to test for cirrhosis.
  
  

Treatment Method

• Methotrexate can be administered orally or via injection. The injection, given weekly, is more effectively released into the bloodstream than the oral medication. Ask your doctor which treatment method is right for you and your lifestyle.