Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "is a systemic inflammatory disease which manifests itself in multiple joints of the body." Management of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms includes medications such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs), steroids, biologic agents, immunosuppressive and antimalarial drugs. Expect severe cases of RA to require a combination of medications for effective symptom relief.
NSAIDs
NSAIDs used primarily as pain relief for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms work to reduce inflammation and pain by blocking prostaglandins, which are hormones that cause muscles to constrict and relax. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports over-the-counter NSAIDS used for pain control include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil and Nuprin), ketoprofen (Orudis KT) and naproxen (Aleve) with higher dosages available by prescription. Other prescription NSAIDs include meloxicam (Mobic), flurbiprofen (Ansaid) and tolmetin (Tolectin). Major possible side effects of NSAIDs include the risk of heart attack, ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.
DMARDs
UpToDate, an online medical educational resource, describes DMARDs as a group of medications that decrease pain by suppressing the activity of the inflammatory system. DMARDs include many drugs used for other medical conditions. The most common DMARDs include methotrexate (originally used as chemotherapy for cancer), sulfasalazine (used for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's), hydroxychloroquine (a malaria drug), cyclosporine (an anti-rejection drug) and azathioprine (a cancer and anti-rejection medication). Side effects of DMARDs include nausea, liver damage and rash.
Corticosteroids
Treatment for an acute phase of rheumatoid arthritis includes the use of corticosteroids such as prednisone and methylprednisolone to reduce joint pain and inflammation The Mayo Clinic reports that the short-term use is beneficial, but long-term use has the potential for serious side effects such as bone thinning, diabetes and cataracts.
TNF-alpha Inhibitors
Etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade) and adalimumab (Humira) are TNF-alpha inhibitors used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis to slow the progression of the damage caused by RA. Complications of TNF-alpha treatment include injection site or infusion reactions, heart failure and malignancy.
Other
The National Institutes of Health reports that on January 11, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved tocilizumab (Actemra) as a drug for use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Its targeted use is for people with inadequate response to other RA drugs. The action of Actemra blocks interleukin-6, an immune system protein. Side effects include upper respiratory infection, headache and high blood pressure
source : livestrong.com
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