Medications for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rituximab (pronounced “ri-TUX-i-mab”) is an antibody that was originally created in the laboratory. It is designed to interact with B cells, which are a type of white blood cells that play a role in the initiation and development of RA. Rituximab (brand name: Rituxan) decreases the number of B cells in the circulation. In fact, [...]
Gold compounds have been used to treat diseases for centuries. The ancient Chinese thought ingesting gold would prolong life and increase vitality. In Europe in the sixteenth century, gold compounds were used to treat epilepsy and depression. In the late nineteenth century microbiologists discovered that gold inhibited the growth of tubercle bacilli, the organism responsible [...]
Abatacept (brand name: Orenica) is the first in a new class of biologic agents used in the treatment of RA. The members of this class are collectively called co-stimulation modulators. T cells play an important role in your immune system by fighting off viruses, bacteria, and other disease-causing agents. A normal immune system leaves healthy [...]
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors are a new class of biologic therapies that have changed the face of rheumatology over the past decade. TNF inhibitor therapy can lead to dramatic improvements in RA symptoms and prevent joint destruction. Unlike the typical arthritis drugs, which tend to be composed of small molecules, TNF inhibitors are complex [...]
Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) is an antimalarial drug that is commonly prescribed to treat RA, systemic lupus erythematosus, and some other rheumatic diseases. This class of medications has a long history. Antimalarial medications that are also useful in treating arthritis were first developed from the bark of the Peruvian cinchona tree. Plaquenil is one of a group [...]
Sulfasalazine (brand name: Azulfidine) is an effective DMARD that is used in the treatment of RA. This drug is created from the combination of salicylic acid (the active ingredient in aspirin) and sulfapyridine (an antibiotic). It is given by mouth and is available in the form of time-release tablets. Like the other DMARDs, sulfasalazine has [...]
Leflunomide is a new DMARD. It was approved by the FDA as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in October 1998, and is sold under the name Arava in the United States. This drug has a different chemical structure than other DMARDs and a unique mechanism of action for improving RA symptoms. Leflunomide is an effective [...]
Methotrexate is a very commonly prescribed RA medication and is the most popular of the disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). It is also known by its brand name, Rheumatrex (Stada Pharmaceuticals). Methotrexate is classified as an antimetabolite drug, which means it is capable of blocking the metabolism of cells. It is particularly effective in suppressing rapidly [...]
Corticosteroids (or, as they are more commonly known, “steroids”) are a class of medications that are often given to people with inflammatory diseases. These medications are similar to natural hormone substances that are produced by the body. Steroids help to reduce inflammation and have been used for more than 50 years to treat RA. They [...]
Signs of RA have been found in the skeletal remains of Stone Age humans, and descriptions of RA have been found in the writings of doctors and healers for thousands of years. The ancient physicians understood that the disease began with pain and stiffness and progressed to increasing joint swelling, joint deformity, limitation of motion, [...]
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are medications that reduce fever, pain, and inflammation. They include a large group of anti-inflammatory agents that work by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins (chemicals in the body that cause inflammation). As their name indicates, these drugs do not contain steroids such as prednisone, nor do they contain narcotics. NSAIDs are [...]