Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication: Tips for Taking

When it comes to rheumatoid arthritis pain, there is really nothing that is going to offer you faster, better relief than the rheumatoid arthritis medication that is available. Rheumatoid arthritis pain can be so intense that it is debilitating and so you really need to do something about it so that your arthritis is not going to rule your life and stop you from doing the things that you love.

While rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic illness (which means that it can last a person for their entire lifetime) patients may still experience long periods without any symptoms at all. Typically, however, rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive illness which definitely has the potential to cause not only joint destruction but functional disability as well.

Now for rheumatoid arthritis medication, there are a few different types that are available for patients to use. It is important that you choose the right type of medication for your particular condition and the symptoms that you are experiencing. There is no single medication that is going to be the best for everyone, so be aware of this going into the whole thing.

NSAIDs

The first type of rheumatoid arthritis medication that your doctor will probably prescribe falls into the NSAIDs category. The major aim of these drugs is to reduce acute inflammation thereby decreasing pain and improving function. There are lots of different medications that fall into this category, and although Aspirin is the oldest drug of the non-steroidal class there are many others as well.

Dependent on your personal characteristics and how severe your symptoms are, this will let your doctor know which of these medications is going to be right for you.

They work by inhibiting the generation of prostaglandins by blocking cyclooxygenase enzymes, and while in some cases they are very effective in lower doses, your doctor is going to need to pay close attention to how much of these drugs you are taking because too much will result in horrible side effects.

Corticosteroids

Another option for rheumatoid arthritis medication are the corticosteroids that are available. These have both anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory activity. There are various different ways in which these drugs can be taken, and this includes orally and intravenously. Depending on your personal preference, this is mainly what your doctor will use to figure out which method you should take your drugs.

Methotrexate

Also for rheumatoid arthritis medication there is Methotrexate, and although this is much less commonly suggested for use than the other two options, it is still one that is available and one which your doctor may consider. Initially this medication was prescribed to people who did not respond to other therapies, and so if you find that none of the other treatment methods are working for you, this may be what your physician turns to.

Prednisone

Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug which is typically taken orally but which can be delivered via an injection and it is a drug which can be used for many different conditions. It is considered as being a prodrug, one that is converted into the liver and into prednislone, which is not only the active drug but a steroid as well.

It is considered as being particularly effective in regards to being an immunosuppressant and thus affects virtually all of the immune system; as well, it is able to be used in the cases of autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, and various kidney diseases as well, including that of nephritic syndrome, and in organ transplantation matters.