State abortion bans may limit access to drug used to treat lupus and cancer

State-level restrictions on abortion may be blocking some patients' access to a drug used to treat a number of diseases, such as breast and lung cancer.

Eczema is a condition in which the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus and is treated with methotrexate. If not immediately terminated, an ectopic pregnancy can be life threatening to the pregnant woman. The growth of the embryo can be stopped with an injection of methotrexate, which can be used to end a pregnancies.

The Washington Post reported that 15 states immediately moved to ban or severely restrict abortion following the Supreme Court's decision. Some patients have shared their experiences on social media due to the restrictions on the use of methotrexate. It's not clear how many patients have been affected and where they are.

I was told today that I could not be prescribed it anymore as I am viably fertile and it is a medication that can be used for abortion. I received an email from my rheumatologist today that they are stopping all refill of methotrexate because it is considered an abortifacient.

FAQ about abortion rights law getting overturned.

Steven Newmark is the director of policy and chief legal officer at the Global Healthy Living Foundation, a NY-based nonprofit that supports people with chronic illnesses. Patients have been told by their pharmacy to go back to their doctor, or the pharmacy has to check with the doctor if they want to prescribe methotrexate, he said.

The Arthritis Foundation has set up a hotline for people to call if they have questions about the emerging issue. Patients who experience challenges in filling their prescriptions have been asked to email advocacy@rheumatology.org with details.

Slate reported (opens in new tab) in May that patients in Texas faced similar challenges because of the state's restrictions on abortion. The law in Texas requires that those who distribute the drug follow certain protocols or face a felony charge. The pharmacist was hesitant about filling any methotrexate prescriptions because of this.

According to the National Library of Medicine, methotrexate can be used to treat a wide range of diseases. According to the Arthritis Foundation, it's used for a number of diseases. In some cases, such as toddlers with JIA, getting the disease into remission so the child can live a full and pain-free life can be life changing.

It was originally published on Live Science