Chemotherapy<unk>  was originally developed and continues to be used for chemotherapy, either alone or in combination with other agents. It is effective for the treatment of a number of cancers, including breast, head and neck, leukemia, lymphoma, lung, osteosarcoma, bladder, and trophoblastic neoplasms. Autoimmune disorders It is used as a disease-modifying treatment for some autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile dermatomyositis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, sarcoidosis, Crohn's disease, eczema and many forms of vasculitis. Although originally designed as a chemotherapy drug (using high doses), in low doses<unk>  is a generally safe and well-tolerated drug in the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases. Because of its effectiveness, low-dose<unk>  is first-line therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Weekly doses are beneficial for 12 to 52 weeks duration therapy, although discontinuation rates are as high as 16% due to adverse effects. Although<unk>  for autoimmune diseases is taken in lower doses than it is for cancer, side effects such as hair loss, nausea, headaches, and skin pigmentation are still common. Use of low doses of<unk>  together with NSAIDs such as aspirin or analgesics such as paracetamol is relatively safe in people being treated for rheumatoid arthritis, if adequate monitoring is done. Studies and reviews have found that most rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with<unk>  for up to one year had less pain, functioned better, had fewer swollen and tender joints, and had less disease activity overall as reported by themselves and their doctors. X-rays also showed that the progress of the disease slowed or stopped in many people receiving<unk> , with the progression being completely halted in about 30% of those receiving the drug. Those individuals with rheumatoid arthritis treated with<unk>  have been found to have a lower risk of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) and strokes. Results of a systematic review exploring the comparative effectiveness of treatments of early rheumatoid arthritis can be improved with combination therapy of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or non-TNF biologics with<unk>  alone. Likewise, a 2016 study found the use of<unk> , in combination with anti-TNF agents, has been shown to be effective for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.<unk>  has also been used for multiple sclerosis and is used occasionally in systemic lupus erythematosus, with tentative evidence to support such use. During pregnancy<unk>  is an abortifacient and is commonly used to terminate pregnancies during the early stages, generally in combination with misoprostol. It is also used to treat ectopic pregnancies, provided the fallopian tube has not ruptured.<unk>  with dilation and curettage is used to treat molar pregnancy. Administration<unk>  can be given by mouth or by injection (intramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneous, or intrathecal). Doses are usually taken weekly, not daily, to limit toxicity. Routine monitoring of the complete blood count, liver function tests, and creatinine are recommended. Measurements of creatinine are recommended at least every two months.
Methotrexate
Phototrexate
Cyclophosphamide
Azathioprine
Lenalidomide
Etanercept
Prednisolone
Thalidomide