Aristocort (Triamcinolone)

Medications For Rheumatoid Arthritis

While there is no specific treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (abbreviated as RA) to date, there are a number of available drugs being sold that are meant to alleviate its symptoms and ultimately improve the patient’s condition.

Overall, RA medications may be grouped into distinct categories, as enumerated in the following paragraphs. Your physician will design a proper treatment plan to manage joint inflammation and pain, plus stop damage to the joints. Often, the most effective treatment can be attained by combining these options:

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, a.k.a. NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, otherwise known as NSAIDs, serve to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, but don’t serve to prevent further damage to the joints. These drugs block the human body from the production of prostaglandins, which primarily causes inflammation and pain.

Common NSAID examples are naproxen (Aleve and Naprosyn) and ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil). Other NSAID examples include etodolac (Lodine), meloxicam (Mobic), ketoprofen (Orudis), oxaprozin (Daypro), Celecoxib (Celebrex), indomethacin, diclofenac (Cataflam and Voltaren), nabumetone (Relafen), and piroxicam (Feldene).

These medications are commonly recommended once a positive diagnosis of RA is made. But remember that when consumed in excess dosages for long time periods, NSAIDs may produce adverse side effects, including gastric ulcers, stomach bleeding, and even kidney and liver damage.

Corticosteroids

A different class of medication used for rheumatoid arthritis treatment is corticosteroids. Such medications suppress the immune system, ultimately reducing inflammation.

Methylprednisolone (SoluMedrol, DepoMedrol), betamethasone (Celestone Soluspan), Cortisone (Cortone), prednisolone (Delta-Cortef), triamcinolone (Aristocort), dexamethasone (Decadron), plus prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone), are some examples of corticosteroids.

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