Lack of Pharmacokinetic Interaction between Rofecoxib and Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Rofecoxib is a highly selective and potent inhibitor of cyclooxgenase‐2 (COX‐2). Methotrexate is a disease‐modifying agent with a narrow therapeutic index frequently prescribed for the management of rheumatoid arthritis. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of clinical doses of rofecoxib on the pharmacokinetics of methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study in 25 rheumatoid arthritis patients on stable doses of methotrexate. Patients received oral methotrexate (7.5 to 20 mg) on days‐1, 7,14, and 21. Nineteen patients received rofecoxib 12.5, 25, and 50 mg once daily on days 1 to 7, 8 to 14, and 15 to 21, respectively. Six patients received placebo on days1 to 21 only to maintain a double‐blinded design for assessment of adverse experiences. Plasma and urine samples were analyzed for methotrexate and its major although inactive metabolite, 7‐hydroxymethotrexate. The AUC00–∞ geometric mean ratios (GMR) and their 90% confidence intervals (90% CI) (rofecoxib + methotrexate/methotrexate alone) for day 7/day −1, day 14/day‐1, and day 21/day −1, for rofecoxib 12.5, 25, and 50 mg, were 1.03 (0.93, 1.14), 1.02 (0.92, 1.12), and 1.06 (0.96, 1.17), respectively (p > 0.2 for all comparisons to day −1). All AUC0–∞ GMR and Cmax GMR 90% CIs fell within the predefined comparability limits of (0.80, 1.25). Similar results were observed for renal clearance of methotrexate and 7‐hydroxymethotrexate at the highest dose of rofecoxib tested (50 mg). It was concluded that rofecoxib at doses of 12.5, 25, and 50 mg once daily has no effect on the plasma concentrations or renal clearance (tested at the highest dose of rofecoxib) of methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis patients.