Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis
Your body was made for better things than rheumatoid arthritis (RA). And you’re not alone. Approximately 1.5 million U.S. adults have RA. That’s why it’s important to understand your condition—so you can have meaningful conversations with your doctor and help make more informed decisions about your treatment plan.
Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis Can Be Treated
With the effectiveness of today’s therapies, disease management plans focus on maintaining a lower level of disease activity by reducing RA symptoms, helping to prevent further damage to joints, and helping to improve a person’s ability to complete common daily tasks. Having an honest conversation with your doctor is a great place to start. Work with your doctor to create a plan that aligns with your personal and treatment goals.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Types
There are a number of ways to treat moderate to severe RA. And while there’s no cure for it, medication may help reduce the signs and symptoms of RA.
Here are some of the different types of treatments available to treat moderate to severe RA.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids, also known as steroids, are used on a short-term basis to help with inflammation.
How they are prescribed: Pill or an injection into a muscle or directly into an affected joint
NSAIDs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to help with joint pain and inflammation.
How they are prescribed: Pill
DMARDs
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) work to reduce the body’s overactive immune and/or inflammatory processes that cause RA symptoms such as joint pain and swelling.
The DMARD family can be classified as the following:
Nonbiologic DMARDs
Traditional nonbiologic DMARDs, like methotrexate, are often prescribed at the time of diagnosis. Oral synthetic small molecules are another class of nonbiologic DMARDs.
One of the options available includes the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. JAK inhibitors work by blocking JAK enzymes located within cells.
How they are prescribed: Injection or pill
XELJANZ is a JAK inhibitor and available as an oral pill.
Biologic DMARDs
Biologic DMARDs are proteins manufactured using recombinant DNA technology . Types of biologic DMARDs include tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers and non-TNF blockers.
How they are prescribed: Injection or infusion
Surgery
Different Factors, Different Treatment Plans
A disease management plan should combine medications with other approaches. Because RA is a progressive disease, different treatment options may be appropriate at different stages. It is important to start treatment soon after diagnosis.
When talking to your healthcare provider about treatment options, it’s important to remember that RA affects everyone differently and the choice of therapy depends on a number of factors, including the severity of your condition. Additionally, some medicines are approved only after trying other medications.
Before starting treatment, discuss the benefits and risks of each type of therapy with your doctor. Certain screening tests, including blood tests for past exposure to certain infections, may be needed before starting some of these medications.
Before starting treatment, tell your doctor about your medical history. Tell your doctor if you have had an infection, such as TB, Hepatitis B or C, liver and kidney problems, or if you have a history of blood clots.
Talking To Your Doctor
If your current treatment is not working well enough to manage your RA symptoms, it’s important to speak up. Taking note of how your disease affects your daily activities can help you prepare for a productive conversation with your doctor. Use our symptom tracker to get started.
