RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS MEDICATION

Rheumatoid Arthiritis Medication

Medication

Medications are very effective and commonly used to treat the disease. There are various types of medications, which are depended on the severity of the disease, how it affects and how rapidly it is progressing.

Medications to treat rheumatoid arthritis are very beneficial to:

Reduce severe pain

Reduce inflammation joints and signs of joint inflammation include tenderness, loss of motion and swelling.

Prevent permanent disability.

Prevent deformity or delay significant joint damage

Improve daily function.

Improve quality of life.

A medication is also known as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Now these medications are recommended by the health care providers to prevent joint destruction. These medications are also called by slow-acting antirheumatic drugs by some people. These medications can help prevent the significant joint damage. If DMARDs treatment use for long term period, it may sustain the benefit of disease control.

DMARDs may divide into two general categories like Synthetic DMARDs and Biological DMARDs, which are based on how they work. Synthetic DMARDs may interfere with the producing of immune cells, which are developing joint inflammation. These medications can be taken orally by patients.

Synthetic DMARDs commonly include:

Methotrexate

Leflunomide

Antimalarial medications

Sulfasalazine

Less commonly used synthetic DMARDs

Penicillamine

Minocycline

Cyclophosphamide

Azathioprine

Biological DMARDs neutralize proteins made by immune cells that help to develop joint inflammation. Biological DMARDs are taken by injection. A new group of this category is known as TNF inhibitors, is very effective to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The effects of tumor necrosis factor (a protein which increases inflammation) are reduced by these medications. TNF inhibitors may be taken in combination with other category DMARDs or alone to reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Biological DMARDs

Infliximab

Adalimumab

Etanercept

Anakinra

Medications can be used with other treatments. This is know as combination therapy and usually uses to treat the disease. Combination therapy may use to reduce the higher risk of side effects that can develop due to higher doses. Recently, studies have shown that combination therapy is very effective to reduce the signs and symptoms of the disease, prevent and control it from getting worse.

Medications to reduce symptoms such as stiffness, pain or swelling may include:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen)

Corticosteroids (medrol or prednisone)

Prescription analgesics

Acetaminophen with hydrocodone
Acetaminophen with codeine
Propoxyphene
Tramadol

Nonprescription acetaminophen