People with rheumatoid arthritis may take some of the medications listed above. However, they need other drugs to slow down the immune system and minimize damage to joints.
Although the following drugs can help, they can have serious side effects. So, careful monitoring is important. The drugs include:
DMARDs (Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs)
DMARDs can reduce joint damage by slowing down the disease. Monitoring for liver damage and lung infections is important. A person may take more than one of these drugs at the same time.
When taking one of the drugs -methotrexate, older adults may need a lower dose. They need to take folic acid supplements daily.
Immunosuppressants
These drugs work by slowing down the immune system. Careful monitoring is important.
TNF-alpha Inhibitors (tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors)
TNF-alpha is a molecule in the immune system that can cause swelling and inflammation in joints. TNF-alpha inhibitors help reduce pain, tenderness, and swelling.
Experience with these drugs in older adults is limited. So, the people who use them generally have failed to benefit from other drugs. The TNF-alpha inhibitors are injected under the skin or in a vein.
Uric Acid Lowering Medications
If a person often has gout flares, they may receive a medicine to lower the level of uric acid in their body. This helps prevent gout and its pain.
Other drugs
Other drugs have been developed that can work on different parts of the immune system. Talk to your provider about these options.
