Rheumatoid Arthritis
Patient Education

Patient Guide

Common Medications and Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis

While rheumatoid arthritis cannot be cured, there are many drugs that can relieve pain by diminishing joint inflammation. They are listed below in this patient education guide.

Treatment used to start with anti-inflammatory agents. However, the thinking now is to begin early with more aggressive therapy to delay joint damage with increased pain.

Of course, your treatment plan will be is specific to you. Side effects and warnings should be discussed with your doctor and taken into consideration when taking rheumatoid arthritis medications.

Class/Type	How it Works	Associated Drugs
DMARDs - Disease Modifying Antirheumatic drugs	Plaquenil Arava Rheumatrex Trexall Dynacin Minocin Azulfidine	Slows the progress of RA, saving joints and other tissues from permanent damage.
Immunosuppressants	Azasan Imuran Cytoxan Gengraf Neoral Sandimmune	Controls the immune system.
NSAIDs: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs	Advil Motrin Aleve	Decreases inflammation and pain.
Steroids: (corticosteroids)	Medrol Prednisone	Decreases inflammation and pain. Slows joint damage.
Target Agents: (Biologics)	Orencia Kineret Rituxan	Inhibits various inflammatory substances made by your body.
TNF-alpha inhibitors:	Humira Enbrel Remicade	Inhibitor works against the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, an inflammatory agent produced by your body, to decrease morning stiffness, pain, and swollen tender joints within two weeks of treatment.