Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Guide

Articles On Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive inflammatory disease that affects the joints. It gets worse over time unless the inflammation is stopped or slowed. Only in very rare cases does rheumatoid arthritis go into remission without treatment.

Arthritis medications play an essential role in controlling the progression and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Starting treatment soon after diagnosis is most effective. And the best medical care combines rheumatoid arthritis medications and other approaches.

You may take rheumatoid arthritis medications alone, but they are often most effective in combination. These are the main types of RA medications:

• Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
• Biologic response modifiers (a type of DMARD)
• Glucocorticoids
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
• Analgesics (painkillers)

In the past, doctors took a conservative, stepwise approach toward treating rheumatoid arthritis. They started first with NSAIDs such as ibuprofen. Then, they progressed to more potent RA drugs for people who showed signs of joint damage.

Today, doctors know that an aggressive approach is often more effective; it will result in fewer symptoms, better function, less joint damage, and decreased disability. The goal, if possible, is to put the disease into remission.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs: DMARDs

If you've been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor may recommend that you begin treatment with one of several types of DMARDs within a few months of diagnosis. One of the most important drugs in the arsenal for treating rheumatoid arthritis, DMARDs can often slow or stop the progression of RA by interrupting the immune process that promotes inflammation. However, they may take up to six months to be fully effective.

DMARDs have greatly improved the quality of life for many people with rheumatoid arthritis. These RA drugs are often used along with NSAIDs or glucocorticoids; however, with this type of medication, you may not need other anti- inflammatories or analgesics.

Because DMARDs target the immune system, they also can weaken the immune system's ability to fight infections. This means you must be watchful for early signs of infection. In some cases, you may also need regular blood tests to make sure the drug is not hurting blood cells or certain organs such as your liver, lungs, or kidneys.

Examples of DMARDs:

Tell your doctor if you have: • Active infection • Liver or kidney disease • Cancer

Tell your doctor if you have: • Abnormal blood counts • Liver or lung disease• Alcoholism• Active infection or hepatitis

• Active plans to conceive

• Abdominal pain • Chills or fever • Dizziness • Hair loss • Headache • Light sensitivity • Itching • Liver problems • Low blood counts

Rare, but serious:

• Upper respiratory tract infection • Headache • Diarrhea • Inflammation of the nasal passage and the upper part of the throat

• Rinvoq increases the risk of serious infections, cancers, lymphoma, and skin cancers

• Upper respiratory infections • Cough • Fever • Nausea

• May cause blood clots

• Tears in the stomach and intestines are possible

Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs: Biologic Response Modifiers

Biologic response modifiers are a type of DMARD. They target the part of the immune system response that leads to inflammation and joint damage. By doing this, they can improve your condition and help relieve symptoms.

These RA medications can't cure rheumatoid arthritis. If the drugs are stopped, symptoms may return. But just as with other DMARDs, biologic response modifiers may slow the progression of the disease or help put it into remission. If your doctor prescribes one of these RA drugs, you will likely take it in combination with methotrexate. Biologic response modifiers are taken by injection and/or by IV and are expensive. Their long-term effects are unknown.

NOTE: Before taking biologics, it's important to get appropriate vaccinations and to be tested for tuberculosis and hepatitis B and C.

Examples of biologic response modifiers:

• Tell your doctor if you have a serious infection, such as pneumonia. • Do not take live vaccines.

Tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure.

• Redness, swelling, pain, or bruising at injection site • Low white blood cell count • Upper respiratory infection

• Redness, pain, itching, swelling, or bruising at injection site • Headache • Rashes

• Nausea

• Fatigue

• Abdominal Pain

Rare complications: • Increased risk of malignancy

• Neurological events

• Serious infections, like TB, and infections from bacteria or fungi

Do not take if you have congestive heart failure, and tell your doctor if you have: • diabetes, HIV, or a weakened immune system

• have or have had hepatitis B • Been exposed to TB • A serious nervous system disorder • Do not take live vaccines.

• Redness, pain, itching, swelling, or bruising at injection site • Headache • Rashes

• Nausea

• Fatigue

• Abdominal Pain

Rare complications: • Increased risk of malignancy

• Neurological events

• Serious infections, like TB, and infections from bacteria or fungi

• Tell your doctor if you have a serious infection or a history of it.

• Headache • Rashes

• Nausea

Fatigue

• Abdominal Pain

• Fever

• Itching

Rare complications include:

• development of tuberculosis

• Invasive Fungal Infections

• Malignancies

• Tell your doctor if you have a serious infection or a history of it.

• TTell your doctors is you are taking concomitant immunosuppressants such as corticosteroids or methotrexate • Do not shake before administering

• Headache • Rashes

• Nausea

Fatigue

• Abdominal Pain

• Fever

• Itching

Rare complications include:

• development of tuberculosis

• Invasive Fungal Infections

• Malignancies

Inflectra

• Tell your doctor if you have a serious infection or a history of it.

• TTell your doctors is you are taking concomitant immunosuppressants such as corticosteroids or methotrexate • Do not shake before administering

• Headache • Rashes

• Nausea

Fatigue

• Abdominal Pain

• Fever

• Itching

Rare complications include:

• development of tuberculosis

• Invasive Fungal Infections

• Malignancies

• Abdominal pain • Chills or fever • Headache • Infection • Itching

Serious side effects: • Infusion reactions • Tumor lysis syndrome • Severe skin reactions

• Abdominal pain • Chills or fever • Headache • Infection • Itching

Serious side effects: • Infusion reactions • Tumor lysis syndrome • Severe skin reactions

• Abdominal pain • Chills or fever • Headache • Infection • Itching

Serious side effects: • Infusion reactions • Tumor lysis syndrome • Severe skin reactions

• Do not take this medicine if you have moderate to severe heart failure.

Simponi

• Redness at the injection site • Upper respiratory infections • Nausea • Abnormal liver tests

Rare complications: • Serious infections, like TB, fungal infections, and reactivation of a previous hepatitis B infection • Lupus • Multiple sclerosis

• Serious infections, like TB, and infections from bacteria, viruses, or fungi

• Tell your doctor if you have had TB, if your immune system is weakened by deconditions such as diabetes, hepatitis or HIV

Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs: Steroids

They are strong anti-inflammatory drugs that can also block other immune responses. Several man-made steroids calls corticosteroids help relieve RA symptoms and may stop or slow joint damage. You receive these RA drugs by pill or as a shot.

Because of the risk of side effects, it is generally recommended that you use these RA drugs only for brief periods; for example, when your disease flares up or until DMARDs are fully effective. If your side effects are severe, don't stop taking the drug suddenly. Talk first with your doctor about what to do.

Examples of corticosteroids:

betamethasone

injectable

prednisone

Tell your doctor if you have:

• Skin rash • Swollen face, lower legs, or ankles • Trouble seeing • A cold or infection that lasts a long time • Weak muscles • Black poop

• Upset stomach • Stomach irritation • Vomiting • Headache • Trouble sleeping • Depression • Anxiety • Hair growth • Bruising • Skipped or irregular periods

Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs: NSAIDs

NSAIDs work by blocking an enzyme that promotes inflammation. By reducing inflammation, NSAIDS help reduce swelling and pain. But they are not effective in reducing joint damage. These drugs alone are not effective in treating the disease. They should be taken in combination with other rheumatoid arthritis medications.

As with glucocorticoids, you should use them for brief periods -- they can cause severe digestive tract problems. Which type, if any, your doctor prescribes may depend upon your medical history. If you have a history of liver, kidney, heart problems or stomach ulcers, it's best to not take these drugs. Ask your doctor whether any new NSAIDS producing fewer side effects are available.

Examples of NSAIDs:

• Increased risk of heart attack and stroke

Indigestion, diarrhea, and stomach pain • Serious skin reactions

diclofenac sodium

Tell your doctor if you: • Drink alcohol • Use blood thinners • Take ACE inhibitors, lithium, warfarin, or furosemide • Have sensitivity to aspirin; kidney, liver, or heart disease; asthma; high blood pressure; ulcers • Do not take with other NSAIDs.

Tell your doctor if you: • Drink alcohol • Use blood thinners • Take ACE inhibitors, lithium, warfarin, or furosemide • Have sensitivity to aspirin; kidney, liver, or heart disease; asthma; high blood pressure; ulcers • Do not take with other NSAIDS.

• increased risk of heart attack and stroke

Abdominal cramps, diarrhea • Dizziness or drowsiness • Heartburn, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, ulcer, or bleeding • Increased risk of blood clots, heart attacks, and stroke

Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs: Analgesics

Analgesics reduce pain but they do not reduce swelling or joint damage.

There are a variety of over-the-counter and prescription analgesics. Narcotics are the most powerful type of analgesic. Use these carefully and be sure to let your doctor know if you have any history of alcoholism or drug abuse.

Examples of analgesics:

Side effects uncommon if taken as directed.

tramadol

• Tell your doctor if you use central nervous system depressants, tranquilizers, sleeping medications, muscle relaxants, or narcotic pain medications or if you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse. • Do not stop suddenly or increase the dose on your own.

Tell your doctor if you use central nervous system depressants, tranquilizers, sleeping medications, muscle relaxants or narcotic pain medications or if you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse. • Never chew or cut tablets; a high dose can be fatal if released rapidly.

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