Trexall™ (
methotrexate) is a prescription medication approved to treat
rheumatoid arthritis, various types of cancer, and
psoriasis. It is different from
Rheumatrex® and generic forms of methotrexate in that it comes in higher strengths, which are convenient for people who would otherwise need to take several Rheumatrex or generic methotrexate tablets for a single dose.
Currently, brand-name Trexall is made by Teva Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
It works by inhibiting an enzyme known as dihydrofolic acid reductase (also known as dihydrofolate reductase).
This enzyme is important for transforming an inactive form of
folic acid into the active form, which is necessary to make some of the building blocks required for DNA production. By inhibiting this enzyme, Trexall interferes with a cell's ability to repair and replicate (copy) itself.
Although Trexall can damage healthy cells as well as unhealthy cells, it tends to target rapidly replicating cells, such as cancer cells and bone marrow cells.
It is not entirely clear how this medication works to treat rheumatoid
arthritis, although it is thought to work by affecting the immune system.
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