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THE CAROLINA CENTER FOR RHEUMATOLOGY AND ARTHRITIS CARE, PA
There is no treatment to cure rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The goals of treatment are to:
- relieve pain
- reduce inflammation
- slow down joint damage
- improve functional ability
Treatments include:
Medications
- anti-inflammatory medications:
non-buffered aspirin acetaminophen (Tylenol) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen and naproxen (Advil, Aleve) Cox-2 inhibitors - celecoxib (Celebrex) steroid drugs (prednisone)
- disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDS) -- to slow the course of the disease:
methotrexate (Rheumatrex) hydroxycholoquinone (Plaquenil) sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) leflunomide (Arava), cyclosporine (Neoral) penicillamine (Cuprimine) gold (Ridaura) -- gold can also be given as an injection
- immunosuppressive drugs (only used when other drugs are ineffective):
azathioprine (Imuran) cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) chlorambucil (Leukeran)
- biologic response modifiers -- drugs that interfere with the autoimmune response associated with RA
etanercept (Enbrel) infliximab (Remicade)
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