Methotrexate Has Potential to Treat Osteoarthritis Pain
A 2024 clinical trial published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that oral methotrexate, when added to usual medications for knee osteoarthritis, reduced pain and stiffness at six months. Methotrexate is usually prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis. Study participants with symptomatic and x-ray-confirmed knee osteoarthritis received oral methotrexate (starting at 10 mg and escalating to 25 mg per day over six weeks) or placebo. All 155 participants receiving care at musculoskeletal clinics in the United Kingdom continued their usual pain medications. The study measured knee pain on a scale of 0 to 10. Mean knee pain decreased from 6.4 to 5.1 in the methotrexate group and from 6.8 to 6.2 in the placebo group. The study also found statistically significant differences favoring methotrexate treatment for reduced stiffness and improved function. More research is needed to determine if the benefit of methotrexate outweighs the risks and side effects in people with osteoarthritis.
