While there is no definite cure for RA or rheumatoid arthritis at present, there are a wide variety of available drugs in pharmacies that are designed to alleviate its symptoms and eventually improve the condition.
In general, RA medications can be classified into different classes, as enumerated in the succeeding paragraphs. Doctors can make proper plan for treatment to reduce joint inflammation and pain, and stop further damage to the joints. Depending on each case, successful treatment can be attained through a combination of the following options:
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, abbreviated as NSAIDs, work as an anti-inflammatory and in pain relief, but don't function to prevent further damage to the joints. These drugs block your body from producing a substance called prostaglandins, which primarily causes pain and inflammation.
Some NSAID examples are naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin). Other NSAID examples include ketoprofen (Orudis), etodolac (Lodine), meloxicam (Mobic), indomethacin, Celecoxib (Celebrex), oxaprozin (Daypro) diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), piroxicam (Feldene), and nabumetone (Relafen).
These medications are regularly advised when a final diagnosis of RA is made. But keep in mind that when consumed in excessive dosages for a long time, NSAIDs can cause negative side effects, such as stomach ulcers, stomach bleeding, as well as kidney and liver damage.
Corticosteroids
Another class of medication used for RA treatment is corticosteroids. Such medications block the immune system, ultimately managing inflammation.
Methylprednisolone (SoluMedrol, DepoMedrol), Cortisone (Cortone), betamethasone (Celestone Soluspan), dexamethasone (Decadron), prednisolone (Delta-Cortef), triamcinolone (Aristocort), plus prednisone (Deltasone and Orasone), are some of the most common corticosteroids.
While corticosteroids may be successful in treating RA, they have been known to trigger adverse side effects when taken in extended periods. Some side effects include glaucoma, cataracts, easy bruising, diabetes, thinning bones, and excessive weight gain.
On account of their potential to develop severe side effects, such medications are often only used as a temporary solution to treat sudden outbreaks of RA. On the plus side, a single corticosteroid injection can inhabit inflammation of the joint for prolonged periods.
Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs or DMARDs
Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) are a group of medications that act to block your immune system from damaging the joints, gradually delaying further progression of joint damage. In treating RA, such medications are often taken in combination with other drugs for greater efficiency.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes permanent damage to the joints, which appears in the early stages. Accordingly, most doctors would advise DMARD therapy soon after making a diagnosis. Patients are most responsive to DMARD treatment in the early stages of RA. The earlier DMARDs are taken, the more advantageous it is for the person.
Examples of DMARDs are cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), gold salts (Solganal, Myochrysine, Ridaura, Aurolate), penicillamine (Cuprimine), azathioprine (Imuran), cyclophosphamide, sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), minocycline, and leflunomide (Arava).
While some DMARD products have produced positive results in treating rheumatoid arthritis, the potential for negative side effects is large. Taking DMARDs for a long time can set off toxicity of the liver and bone marrow, infections, allergic reactions, and autoimmunity.
Of the DMARDs previously listed, hydroxychloroquine has the lowest risk of causing liver and bone marrow toxicity, and is hence deemed to be one of the safest DMARD types. Unfortunately, hydroxychloroquine is by no means an especially powerful medication and is not effective enough on its own to alleviate rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
Conversely, methotrexate is believed to be one of the most powerful DMARDs in treating RA due to a number of reasons. It has been documented to work in RA treatment without affecting the toxicity of the liver and bone marrow as in the majority of DMARDs. Moreover, methotrexate has been proven safe and effective when used in combination with biological agents, another type of RA drugs to be discussed later. Therefore, it is commonly recommended for use with some biological agents in cases where the drug fails to manage the condition on its own. But please note while methotrexate is not as potentially dangerous as others, it still canhinder the bone marrow or set off hepatitis. In such cases, getting regular blood tests are recommended to guide the individual's condition, and to stop treatment at the first indication of problems.
Biological Agents
Biological agents or biological drugs serve to reduce inflammation via different ways.
An example of how biological drugs work is by inhibiting tumor necrosis factors (TNFs). Adalimumab (Humira), infliximab (Remicade), and etanercept (Enbrel) are some TNF blockers.
Another method of how biological agents curtail inflammation is through killing B cells. Rituximab (Rituxan), for example, merges itself to B cells, ultimately destroying them.
Other medications that alleviate inflammation through different ways are:
- tocilizumab (e.g. RoActemra and Actemra), works by blocking IL-6/interleukin - anakinra (e.g. Kineret), serves to block interleukin 1 (IL-1) - abatacept (i.e. Orencia), blocks T-cells
Keep in mind that every biological agent has its own potential for severe side effects. Careful consideration should be given to the drug's side effects when giving it to a patient.
Salicylates
Salicylates work by reducing the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins generate arthritis inflammation and pain. Recently, the use of salicylates have been generally replaced with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, primarily since the former can cause adverse side effects, such as potentially causing kidney damage.
Pain Relief Medications
Lastly, various pain relief medications can likewise be taken to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Examples of pain relief medications are tramadol (Ultram) and acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Even though pain relief medications neither reduce inflammation nor delay the progression of further joint damage, these medications allow the patient become more comfortable and in due course improve his/her overall condition. It is because of this that pain relief medications are absolutely worth considering.
Surgery as a Last Resort
If all the medications discussed previously fail to produce results, a physician may probably recommend surgical treatment. Some surgical procedures used in RA treatment are tendon repair, joint lining removal (i.e. synovectomy), as well as arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery), wherein the damaged parts of the joint are replaced with prosthetics. - 20761
In general, RA medications can be classified into different classes, as enumerated in the succeeding paragraphs. Doctors can make proper plan for treatment to reduce joint inflammation and pain, and stop further damage to the joints. Depending on each case, successful treatment can be attained through a combination of the following options:
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, abbreviated as NSAIDs, work as an anti-inflammatory and in pain relief, but don't function to prevent further damage to the joints. These drugs block your body from producing a substance called prostaglandins, which primarily causes pain and inflammation.
Some NSAID examples are naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin). Other NSAID examples include ketoprofen (Orudis), etodolac (Lodine), meloxicam (Mobic), indomethacin, Celecoxib (Celebrex), oxaprozin (Daypro) diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), piroxicam (Feldene), and nabumetone (Relafen).
These medications are regularly advised when a final diagnosis of RA is made. But keep in mind that when consumed in excessive dosages for a long time, NSAIDs can cause negative side effects, such as stomach ulcers, stomach bleeding, as well as kidney and liver damage.
Corticosteroids
Another class of medication used for RA treatment is corticosteroids. Such medications block the immune system, ultimately managing inflammation.
Methylprednisolone (SoluMedrol, DepoMedrol), Cortisone (Cortone), betamethasone (Celestone Soluspan), dexamethasone (Decadron), prednisolone (Delta-Cortef), triamcinolone (Aristocort), plus prednisone (Deltasone and Orasone), are some of the most common corticosteroids.
While corticosteroids may be successful in treating RA, they have been known to trigger adverse side effects when taken in extended periods. Some side effects include glaucoma, cataracts, easy bruising, diabetes, thinning bones, and excessive weight gain.
On account of their potential to develop severe side effects, such medications are often only used as a temporary solution to treat sudden outbreaks of RA. On the plus side, a single corticosteroid injection can inhabit inflammation of the joint for prolonged periods.
Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs or DMARDs
Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) are a group of medications that act to block your immune system from damaging the joints, gradually delaying further progression of joint damage. In treating RA, such medications are often taken in combination with other drugs for greater efficiency.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes permanent damage to the joints, which appears in the early stages. Accordingly, most doctors would advise DMARD therapy soon after making a diagnosis. Patients are most responsive to DMARD treatment in the early stages of RA. The earlier DMARDs are taken, the more advantageous it is for the person.
Examples of DMARDs are cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), gold salts (Solganal, Myochrysine, Ridaura, Aurolate), penicillamine (Cuprimine), azathioprine (Imuran), cyclophosphamide, sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), minocycline, and leflunomide (Arava).
While some DMARD products have produced positive results in treating rheumatoid arthritis, the potential for negative side effects is large. Taking DMARDs for a long time can set off toxicity of the liver and bone marrow, infections, allergic reactions, and autoimmunity.
Of the DMARDs previously listed, hydroxychloroquine has the lowest risk of causing liver and bone marrow toxicity, and is hence deemed to be one of the safest DMARD types. Unfortunately, hydroxychloroquine is by no means an especially powerful medication and is not effective enough on its own to alleviate rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
Conversely, methotrexate is believed to be one of the most powerful DMARDs in treating RA due to a number of reasons. It has been documented to work in RA treatment without affecting the toxicity of the liver and bone marrow as in the majority of DMARDs. Moreover, methotrexate has been proven safe and effective when used in combination with biological agents, another type of RA drugs to be discussed later. Therefore, it is commonly recommended for use with some biological agents in cases where the drug fails to manage the condition on its own. But please note while methotrexate is not as potentially dangerous as others, it still canhinder the bone marrow or set off hepatitis. In such cases, getting regular blood tests are recommended to guide the individual's condition, and to stop treatment at the first indication of problems.
Biological Agents
Biological agents or biological drugs serve to reduce inflammation via different ways.
An example of how biological drugs work is by inhibiting tumor necrosis factors (TNFs). Adalimumab (Humira), infliximab (Remicade), and etanercept (Enbrel) are some TNF blockers.
Another method of how biological agents curtail inflammation is through killing B cells. Rituximab (Rituxan), for example, merges itself to B cells, ultimately destroying them.
Other medications that alleviate inflammation through different ways are:
- tocilizumab (e.g. RoActemra and Actemra), works by blocking IL-6/interleukin - anakinra (e.g. Kineret), serves to block interleukin 1 (IL-1) - abatacept (i.e. Orencia), blocks T-cells
Keep in mind that every biological agent has its own potential for severe side effects. Careful consideration should be given to the drug's side effects when giving it to a patient.
Salicylates
Salicylates work by reducing the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins generate arthritis inflammation and pain. Recently, the use of salicylates have been generally replaced with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, primarily since the former can cause adverse side effects, such as potentially causing kidney damage.
Pain Relief Medications
Lastly, various pain relief medications can likewise be taken to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Examples of pain relief medications are tramadol (Ultram) and acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Even though pain relief medications neither reduce inflammation nor delay the progression of further joint damage, these medications allow the patient become more comfortable and in due course improve his/her overall condition. It is because of this that pain relief medications are absolutely worth considering.
Surgery as a Last Resort
If all the medications discussed previously fail to produce results, a physician may probably recommend surgical treatment. Some surgical procedures used in RA treatment are tendon repair, joint lining removal (i.e. synovectomy), as well as arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery), wherein the damaged parts of the joint are replaced with prosthetics. - 20761
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