Difference Between Methotrexate and Methotrexate Sodium

The key difference between methotrexate and methotrexate sodium is that methotrexate is a chemotherapy agent, whereas methotrexate sodium is the sodium salt of methotrexate.

Methotrexate is an anticancer drug that has carbonyl centers, amine groups and aromatic rings in its chemical structure. The sodium salt of this compound contains two sodium cations in the place of two hydrogen atoms in the two carbonyl centers of the methotrexate compound; thus, we can name it as methotrexate disodium or simply as methotrexate sodium.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Methotrexate
3. What is Methotrexate Sodium
4. Side by Side Comparison – Methotrexate vs Methotrexate Sodium in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Methotrexate?

Methotrexate is a chemotherapy agent and an immune system suppressant. This substance is also named as amethopterin. We can use this drug as a treatment for cancer, autoimmune diseases, ectopic pregnancy, and medical abortions. Methotrexate can treat cancers like breast cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, lymphoma, and gestational trophoblastic disease.

However, there can be some common side effects caused by this drug, including nausea, feeling tired, fever, increased risk of infection, and low white blood cell counts. Some serious side effects of using methotrexate include liver disease, lung disease, lymphoma, and severe skin rashes. In addition, this drug is not safe for use during breastfeeding, according to some research studies. The drug acts by blocking the body’s use of folic acid.

Difference Between Methotrexate and Methotrexate Sodium

Figure 01: Chemical Structure of Methotrexate

When considering the routes of administration for methotrexate drug, it can be given by mouth or as an injection. The injections we can use include intramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneous, or intrathecal injections. Moreover, we should take the doses of this drug weekly, not daily. That is to limit the toxicity of the drug. If we take high doses of methotrexate, it can cause some adverse effects such as hepatotoxicity (or liver damage), ulcerative stomatitis, and leukopenia.

What is Methotrexate Sodium?

Methotrexate sodium is the sodium salt of methotrexate. It is an antimetabolite with antineoplastic and immunomodulating properties. This substance tends to bind to the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase and inhibits the enzyme. It causes the inhibition of purine nucleotide and thymidylate synthesis, and eventually, it can inhibit DNA and RNA syntheses. The chemical formula for this substance is C20H20N8Na2O5. This compound has two sodium cations associated with the methotrexate compound. The two sodium cations replace the two hydrogen atoms in the carbonyl centers of the methotrexate compound.

What is the Difference Between Methotrexate and Methotrexate Sodium?

The sodium salt of methotrexate compound contains two sodium cations in the place of two hydrogen atoms in the two carbonyl centers of the methotrexate compound; therefore, we can name it as methotrexate disodium or simply as methotrexate sodium. The key difference between methotrexate and methotrexate sodium is that methotrexate is a chemotherapy agent, whereas methotrexate sodium is the sodium salt of methotrexate.

Moreover, another difference between methotrexate and methotrexate sodium is that the methotrexate is a neutral organic compound while the methotrexate sodium is an ionic compound consisting of two sodium cations. In addition to these differences, methotrexate acts by blocking the body’s use of folic acid, while methotrexate sodium binds to the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase and inhibits the enzyme.

Below infographic tabulates the differences between methotrexate and methotrexate sodium.

Summary – Methotrexate vs Methotrexate Sodium

Methotrexate is a medication we can use to treat cancers. The key difference between methotrexate and methotrexate sodium is that methotrexate is a chemotherapy agent, whereas methotrexate sodium is the sodium salt of methotrexate. Methotrexate sodium is an antimetabolite with antineoplastic and immunomodulating properties. The chemical formula for this disodium salt substance is C20H20N8Na2O5.

Reference:

1. “Methotrexate Sodium.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Available here.