Even though there is no actual treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to this day, there are a number of available medications in pharmacies that are designed to manage its symptoms and eventually improve the patient's condition.
In general, rheumatoid arthritis medications can be grouped into different classes, as discussed in the following paragraphs. Physicians will probably recommend an appropriate plan for treatment to reduce inflammation and pain of the joints, and avert damage to the joints. Depending on each case, the most effective treatment can be accomplished by combining these options:
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs or NSAIDs
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, otherwise known as NSAIDs, work as an anti-inflammatory and in pain relief, but don't function to protect the joints from further damage. These drugs block the body from producing a substance called prostaglandins, which which sets off inflammation & pain.
Common NSAID examples are naproxen (Naprosyn and Aleve) and ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil). Other examples include ketoprofen (Orudis), meloxicam (Mobic), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin, Celecoxib (Celebrex), oxaprozin (Daypro), diclofenac (Voltaren & Cataflam), nabumetone (Relafen), and piroxicam (Feldene).
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
One more classification of rheumatoid arthritis medication is corticosteroids. These medications restrain the immune system, thus lessening 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, these medications are usually only used as a temporary solution to manage sudden rheumatoid arthritis outbreaks. The good news is that just one corticosteroid injection is able to block joint inflammation for a long time.
Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (a.k.a. DMARDs) pertain to a class of drugs that serve to prevent your immune system from damaging the joints, thus delaying further progression of joint damage. In rheumatoid arthritis treatment, these medications are commonly used alongside other meds for more successful results.
RA causes permanent joint damage, which manifests in the early stages of the disease. Accordingly, most medical specialists would prescribe DMARD therapy soon after diagnosis. You are most receptive to DMARD treatment during the initial stages of RA. The earlier DMARDs are consumed, the more advantageous it is for the RA sufferer.
Some DMARD examples are methotrexate (Rheumatrex), hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), gold salts (Solganal, Aurolate, Myochrysine, Ridaura), cyclophosphamide, penicillamine (Cuprimine), azathioprine (Imuran), minocycline, leflunomide (Arava), and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine).
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 deemed to be one of the most powerful DMARDs to use in treating RA because of several reasons. Methotrexate has been documented to effectively fight RA without causing bone marrow and liver toxicity like the majority of DMARDs. In addition, it has been proven effective and safe when used alongside biological agents, another group of RA drugs discussed below. Consequently, these drugs are often recommended for use with some biological agents in cases where methotrexate fails to cure rheumatoid arthritis on its own. On the other hand, please note while methotrexate is not as potentially dangerous as others, it still may likelyobstruct the bone marrow or set off hepatitis. In such cases, taking regular blood tests are recommended to monitor the individual's condition, and to cease treatment at the first sign of complications.
Biological Agents
Biological drugs, also known as biological agents, function to alleviate inflammation through various ways.
One example of how biological drugs work is by inhibiting tumor necrosis factors (TNFs). Infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), and etanercept (Enbrel) are some TNF blockers.
Another method of how biological agents control inflammation is through destroying B cells. Rituximab (Rituxan), in particular, merges itself to B cells, thus destroying them.
Other medications that reduce inflammation through their own distinctive 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
One thing to consider is that each of these biological drugs has its own potential for negative side effects. A drug's side effects must be considered when recommending it to an individual.
Salicylates
Salicylates reduce prostaglandins production. Prostaglandins generate the pain and inflammation of arthritis. In recent years, the use of salicylates have been generally replaced with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), mainly since salicylates can cause negative side effects, such as damaging the kidney.
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).
Although anti-pain medications neither reduce inflammation nor avoid the progression of joint damage, these medications allow the individual become more comfortable and eventually function better. It is because of this that pain relief drugs are absolutely worth considering.
Surgery as a Last Resort
If all these medications still prove ineffective, physicians can recommend surgical treatment. Examples of surgeries used in RA treatment are tendon repair, synovectomy (i.e. joint lining removal), and joint replacement surgery (arthroplasty), wherein the damaged areas of the joint are replaced with prosthetics. - 15437
In general, rheumatoid arthritis medications can be grouped into different classes, as discussed in the following paragraphs. Physicians will probably recommend an appropriate plan for treatment to reduce inflammation and pain of the joints, and avert damage to the joints. Depending on each case, the most effective treatment can be accomplished by combining these options:
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs or NSAIDs
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, otherwise known as NSAIDs, work as an anti-inflammatory and in pain relief, but don't function to protect the joints from further damage. These drugs block the body from producing a substance called prostaglandins, which which sets off inflammation & pain.
Common NSAID examples are naproxen (Naprosyn and Aleve) and ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil). Other examples include ketoprofen (Orudis), meloxicam (Mobic), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin, Celecoxib (Celebrex), oxaprozin (Daypro), diclofenac (Voltaren & Cataflam), nabumetone (Relafen), and piroxicam (Feldene).
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
One more classification of rheumatoid arthritis medication is corticosteroids. These medications restrain the immune system, thus lessening 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, these medications are usually only used as a temporary solution to manage sudden rheumatoid arthritis outbreaks. The good news is that just one corticosteroid injection is able to block joint inflammation for a long time.
Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (a.k.a. DMARDs) pertain to a class of drugs that serve to prevent your immune system from damaging the joints, thus delaying further progression of joint damage. In rheumatoid arthritis treatment, these medications are commonly used alongside other meds for more successful results.
RA causes permanent joint damage, which manifests in the early stages of the disease. Accordingly, most medical specialists would prescribe DMARD therapy soon after diagnosis. You are most receptive to DMARD treatment during the initial stages of RA. The earlier DMARDs are consumed, the more advantageous it is for the RA sufferer.
Some DMARD examples are methotrexate (Rheumatrex), hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), gold salts (Solganal, Aurolate, Myochrysine, Ridaura), cyclophosphamide, penicillamine (Cuprimine), azathioprine (Imuran), minocycline, leflunomide (Arava), and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine).
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 deemed to be one of the most powerful DMARDs to use in treating RA because of several reasons. Methotrexate has been documented to effectively fight RA without causing bone marrow and liver toxicity like the majority of DMARDs. In addition, it has been proven effective and safe when used alongside biological agents, another group of RA drugs discussed below. Consequently, these drugs are often recommended for use with some biological agents in cases where methotrexate fails to cure rheumatoid arthritis on its own. On the other hand, please note while methotrexate is not as potentially dangerous as others, it still may likelyobstruct the bone marrow or set off hepatitis. In such cases, taking regular blood tests are recommended to monitor the individual's condition, and to cease treatment at the first sign of complications.
Biological Agents
Biological drugs, also known as biological agents, function to alleviate inflammation through various ways.
One example of how biological drugs work is by inhibiting tumor necrosis factors (TNFs). Infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), and etanercept (Enbrel) are some TNF blockers.
Another method of how biological agents control inflammation is through destroying B cells. Rituximab (Rituxan), in particular, merges itself to B cells, thus destroying them.
Other medications that reduce inflammation through their own distinctive 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
One thing to consider is that each of these biological drugs has its own potential for negative side effects. A drug's side effects must be considered when recommending it to an individual.
Salicylates
Salicylates reduce prostaglandins production. Prostaglandins generate the pain and inflammation of arthritis. In recent years, the use of salicylates have been generally replaced with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), mainly since salicylates can cause negative side effects, such as damaging the kidney.
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).
Although anti-pain medications neither reduce inflammation nor avoid the progression of joint damage, these medications allow the individual become more comfortable and eventually function better. It is because of this that pain relief drugs are absolutely worth considering.
Surgery as a Last Resort
If all these medications still prove ineffective, physicians can recommend surgical treatment. Examples of surgeries used in RA treatment are tendon repair, synovectomy (i.e. joint lining removal), and joint replacement surgery (arthroplasty), wherein the damaged areas of the joint are replaced with prosthetics. - 15437
About the Author:
To grab your Free Arthritis Relief Guide, and to read more articles related to Rheumatoid Arthritis Medications, please visit this arthritis website.
