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INFO - Treating rheumatoid arthritis with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)

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WebMD

" Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis With Disease-Modifying Drugs (DMARDs) "

Reviewed by W. , MD, February 2006

Excerpt:

There are medications available to slow the progression of joint damage from

rheumatoid arthritis. They are called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs,

or DMARDs, and they are an important part of an overall treatment plan. What

are these drugs, and how do they work?

Disease-modifying drugs that act on the immune system to slow the

progression of rheumatoid arthritis. This is why they are called

" disease-modifying. " Many different medicines can be used as DMARDs in the

treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but some are used more often than others:

Rheumatrex (methotrexate) is the most commonly used DMARD. This is

because it has been shown to work as well or better than any other single

medicine. It is also relatively inexpensive and generally safe. Like most

DMARDs, methotrexate has side effects; it can cause stomach upset or be

toxic to the liver or bone marrow. Taking folic acid helps reduce some of

the side effects. Methotrexate's biggest advantage might be that it has been

shown to be safe to take for long periods of time.

Biologic drugs: Enbrel (etanercept), Humira (adalimumab), Kineret

(Anakinra), Orencia (abatacept), and Remicade (infliximab). These are the

newest drugs for rheumatoid arthritis, and are injected under the skin. They

work by neutralizing the immune system's signals that lead to joint damage.

When used with methotrexate, these medicines help most people with

rheumatoid arthritis. These drugs are thought to have fewer side effects

than other DMARDs. One rare side effect is the risk for potentially severe

infections. However, potential long-term effects won't be known until the

drugs have been used by patients for many years.

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) and Azulfidine (sulfasalazine) are used

for mild rheumatoid arthritis. They are not as powerful as other DMARDs, but

they usually cause fewer side effects.

Minocin (minocycline) is an antibiotic. But it may help RA by stopping

inflammation. It can take several months to start working and up to a year

before the full effects are known.

Arava (leflunomide) works about as well as methotrexate and can work

even better in combination with it. The side effects are similar to

methotrexate. Sometimes Arava causes diarrhea and can't be used. Since Arava

is known to cause harm to a fetus, women must take special precautions to

not get pregnant while on it.

Neoral (cyclosporine) is a powerful drug that often works well in

slowing down joint damage. But because it can hurt the kidneys and has other

potential side effects, it is usually used for severe rheumatoid arthritis

after other drugs fail.

Imuran (azathioprine) is used for many different inflammatory

conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. The most common side effects are

nausea and vomiting - sometimes with stomach pain and diarrhea.

DMARDs slow down rheumatoid arthritis and improve quality of life for most

people. Some will even achieve a remission while taking them. More commonly,

the disease activity continues, but at a slower, less intense pace.

Read the entire article here:

http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/25/113252.htm?z=1834_00000_2244_HZ_02

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

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