According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease, believed to be caused by a faulty immune response. This results in inflammation of the joints of the body, with pain, stiffness and progressive deformity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that over 1 million U.S. adults are living with rheumatoid arthritis, and women account for about 75% of cases. The disease reduces quality of life in the sufferers more than other arthritic conditions. Medications and other treatment methods are used to slow the progress of the disease, relieve discomfort and improve quality of life.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs relieve pain and reduce inflammation. They include over-the-counter medications like aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil) and naproxen (Alleve) and prescription medications, including meloxicam (Mobic), etodolac (Lodine), nabumetone (Relafen), sulindac (Clinoril), tolementin (Tolectin), choline magnesium salicylate (Trilasate), diclofenac (Cataflam, Arthrotec and Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis and Oruvail), oxaprozin (Daypro) and piroxicam (Feldene). Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitors like celecoxib (Celebrex) are also included in this category.
Analgesics
Analgesics are mainly used for relief of symptomatic pain and include acetaminophen, propoxyphene, meperidine and morphine.
Glucocorticoids
These steroids, including prednisolone and methyl prednisolone (Medrol), reduce inflammation and pain. They also slow down the progressive joint damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis. According to the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, intra-articular formulations of the steroids, which are injected directly into the joints and include methylprednisolone and triamcinolone, are used to treat acute phases of the disease.
Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
DMARDs actually slow the progress of the disease and prevent permanent structural damage to the affected joints. The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center recommends that they be started as soon as the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is confirmed. DMARDs include methotrexate (Rheumatrex and Trexall), hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), minocycline (Minocin), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), leflunomide (Arava) and intramuscular gold injections (Myochrysine and Solganal) and are usually used in combination with steroids and NSAIDs.
Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors are also included in this class. They work by shutting down critical components of the immune system and stopping the joint damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Those approved by the food and drug administration for use in rheumatoid arthritis include etanercept (Enbrel), adalimumab (Humira) and infliximab (Remicade).
Abatacept (Orencia), rituximab (Rituxan) and anakinra (Kineret) are agents that shut down specific components of the body's immune system, to stop the damage to the joints. Other drugs that suppress the immune system used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis include cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), cyclosporine-A (Sandimmune and Neoral), azathioprine (Imuran) and d-penicillamine (Cuprimine and Depen).
