Pemetrexed Disodium: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Pemetrexed Disodium is a folate analog metabolic inhibitor sold in the U.S. under 2 brand and generic names, for non-small-cell lung carcinoma and mesothelial neoplasms. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Folate Analog Metabolic Inhibitor
- Treats
- Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma and Mesothelial Neoplasms
- Available as
- Injectable
- Sold as
- 2 products — Pemetrexed Disodium and Alimta
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
How pemetrexed disodium is dosed
From the FDA label for Alimta (application NDA021462). Other pemetrexed disodium products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
The recommended dose of ALIMTA administered with pembrolizumab and platinum chemotherapy in patients with a creatinine clearance (calculated by Cockcroft-Gault equation) of 45 mL/min or greater is 500 mg/m 2 as an intravenous infusion over 10 minutes, administered after pembrolizumab and prior to platinum chemotherapy, on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. ( 2.1 ) The recommended dose of ALIMTA, administered as a single agent or with cisplatin, in patients with creatinine clearance of 45 mL/minute or greater is 500 mg/m 2 as an intravenous infusion over 10 minutes on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. ( 2.1 , 2.2 ) Initiate folic acid 400 mcg to 1000 mcg orally, once daily, beginning 7 days prior to the first dose of ALIMTA and continue until 21 days after the last dose of ALIMTA. ( 2.4 ) Administer vitamin B 12 , 1 mg intramuscularly, 1 week prior to the first dose of ALIMTA and every 3 cycles. ( 2.4 ) Administer dexamethasone 4 mg orally, twice daily the day before, the day of, and the day after ALIMTA administration. ( 2.4 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage for Non-Squamous NSCLC The recommended dose of ALIMTA when administered with pembrolizumab and platinum chemotherapy for the initial treatment of metastatic non-squamous NSCLC in patients with a creatinine clearance (calculated by Cockcroft-Gault equation) of 45 mL/min or greater is 500 mg/m 2 as an intravenous infusion over 10 minutes…
Pemetrexed Disodium side effects
The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling: Myelosuppression [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Renal failure [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Bullous and exfoliative skin toxicity [see Warning and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Interstitial pneumonitis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Radiation recall [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥20%) of ALIMTA, when administered as a single agent are fatigue, nausea, and anorexia. ( 6.1 ) The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥20%) of ALIMTA when administered with cisplatin are vomiting, neutropenia, anemia, stomatitis/pharyngitis, thrombocytopenia, and constipation. ( 6.1 ) The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥20%) of ALIMTA when administered in combination with pembrolizumab and platinum chemotherapy are fatigue/asthenia, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, decreased appetite, rash, vomiting, cough, dyspnea, and pyrexia. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Eli Lilly and Company at 1-800-LillyRx (1-800-545-5979) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reactions rates cannot be directly compared to rates in other clinical trials and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical…
Who shouldn’t take pemetrexed disodium
ALIMTA is contraindicated in patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to pemetrexed [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )]. History of severe hypersensitivity reaction to pemetrexed. ( 4 )
Pemetrexed Disodium drug interactions
Ibuprofen increased risk of ALIMTA toxicity in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment. Modify the ibuprofen dosage as recommended for patients with a creatinine clearance between 45 mL/min and 79 mL/min. ( 2.5 , 5.6 , 7 ) Effects of Ibuprofen on Pemetrexed Ibuprofen increases exposure (AUC) of pemetrexed [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . In patients with creatinine clearance between 45 mL/min and 79 mL/min: Avoid administration of ibuprofen for 2 days before, the day of, and 2 days following administration of ALIMTA [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.5 )] . Monitor patients more frequently for myelosuppression, renal, and gastrointestinal toxicity, if concomitant administration of ibuprofen cannot be avoided.
Every pemetrexed disodium product we track (2)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70/100 | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → |
How long pemetrexed disodium keeps
The date on a sealed pack is not the only one: some pemetrexed disodium labels start a second clock once the product is opened or mixed, as short as 24 hours.
Does pemetrexed disodium expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsWhat people report to the FDA about pemetrexed disodium
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 3,872 reports naming pemetrexed disodium, and the FDA flagged 98% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- malignant neoplasm progression396 reports
- myelosuppression380 reports
- anaemia195 reports
- diarrhoea182 reports
- nausea175 reports
- platelet count decreased143 reports
- rash141 reports
- neutropenia140 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean pemetrexed disodium caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 25, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is pemetrexed disodium?
ALIMTA (pemetrexed for injection) is a folate analog metabolic inhibitor.
What kind of drug is pemetrexed disodium?
The FDA classifies pemetrexed disodium as a folate analog metabolic inhibitor. Folate analog metabolic inhibitors like methotrexate block the enzyme that converts folate into its usable form, starving fast-dividing cells of the building blocks for DNA. At low doses they also calm an overactive immune system and reduce inflammation. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take pemetrexed disodium with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run pemetrexed disodium against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is pemetrexed disodium sold under?
We track 2 pemetrexed disodium-containing products in the U.S.: Pemetrexed Disodium and Alimta. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does pemetrexed disodium come in?
Across the brands we track, pemetrexed disodium is currently marketed as injectable, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic pemetrexed disodium?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic pemetrexed disodium product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Pemetrexed Disodium: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/pemetrexed-disodium
- MLA
- “Pemetrexed Disodium: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/pemetrexed-disodium.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for pemetrexed disodium on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.