Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. Do not take this medicine everyday to treat conditions other than cancer.

Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Measure the oral liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup.

Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it. Do not take the tablet if you cannot swallow it.

For patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Your doctor may give you folic acid or folinic acid supplement to help reduce the unwanted effects of this medicine.

For patients with cancer: Do not take folic acid or folinic acid supplement unless directed by your doctor.

Do not take this medicine with foods that are rich in milk.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For oral dosage form (tablets):
    • For acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL):
      • Adults and children—Dose is based on body size and must be determined by your doctor. At first, 20 milligrams (mg) per meter squared (m(2)) of body size once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated.
    • For mycosis fungoides:
      • Adults—
        • Used alone: 25 to 75 milligrams (mg) once a week.
        • Used with other medicines: Dose is based on body size and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 10 mg per meter squared (m(2)) of body size 2 times a week.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For non-Hodgkin lymphoma:
      • Adults—2.5 milligrams (mg) 2 to 4 times a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated. However, the dose is usually not more than 10 mg per week.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For polyarticular juvenile arthritis (pJIA):
      • Children—Dose is based on body size and must be determined by your doctor. At first, 10 milligrams (mg) per meter squared (m2) once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated.
    • For psoriasis:
      • Adults—At first, 10 to 25 milligrams (mg) once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated. However, the dose is usually not more than 30 mg per week.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For rheumatoid arthritis:
      • Adults—At first, 7.5 milligrams (mg) once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For oral dosage form (Jylamvo® solution):
    • For acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL):
      • Adults—Dose is based on body size and must be determined by your doctor. At first, 20 milligrams (mg) per meter squared (m(2)) of body size once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For mycosis fungoides:
      • Adults—
        • Used alone: 25 to 75 milligrams (mg) once a week.
        • Used with other medicines: Dose is based on body size and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 10 mg per meter squared (m(2)) of body size 2 times a week.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For non-Hodgkin lymphoma:
      • Adults—2.5 milligrams (mg) 2 to 4 times a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated. However, the dose is usually not more than 10 mg per week.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For psoriasis:
      • Adults—At first, 10 to 25 milligrams (mg) once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated. However, the dose is usually not more than 30 mg per week.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For rheumatoid arthritis:
      • Adults—At first, 7.5 milligrams (mg) once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For oral dosage form (Xatmep™ solution):
    • For acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL):
      • Children—Dose is based on body size and must be determined by your doctor. At first, 20 milligrams (mg) per meter squared (m(2)) of body size once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
    • For polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA):
      • Children—Dose is based on body size and must be determined by your doctor. At first, 10 milligrams (mg) per meter squared (m(2)) of body size once per week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.

Missed Dose

This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.