Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment options

Select A TREATMENT OPTION to learn more

Learn about the different types
of medications used to treat
rheumatoid arthritis

While there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there are treatments that can help relieve the joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. Some of the treatment options your doctor may consider are described here. It’s important to talk to your rheumatologist to determine which treatment option is right for you.

NSAIDs

Often prescribed by doctors when RA first starts, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help reduce pain, stiffness, and swelling. However, they don’t stop further joint damage. Many NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (such as Motrin^®* and Advil^®*) and naproxen (such as Aleve^®*), are available at drug stores without a prescription. Other medications may require a prescription. Over time, many people find that NSAIDs may not be enough to provide the symptom relief they require.

*Indicated trademarks are the registered trademarks of their respective owners.

DMARDs

Your doctor may have prescribed a medicine called a DMARD (disease-modifying antirheumatic drug) to help treat your RA. Methotrexate is a commonly prescribed DMARD for the treatment of RA. While many people are helped by methotrexate, for others, it isn’t enough. Your doctor may combine methotrexate with other medications to help relieve your symptoms and help treat your RA.

Biologics

Some biologic medications help treat moderate to severe RA by reducing the pain, stiffness, and swelling caused by the disease. A biologic may be appropriate for you if your symptoms are getting worse while taking a DMARD, such as methotrexate.

Anti-TNF Biologics

Anti-TNFs (tumor necrosis factor) are a type of biologic that works by blocking the action of TNF-alpha, a protein made by your body’s immune system. In certain autoimmune diseases, such as RA, there is too much TNF-alpha. Too much TNF-alpha can cause the immune system to attack parts of the body. This can lead to pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. Over time, RA can damage joints.

It's important to know that blocking too much TNF-alpha can lessen your body's ability to fight infections.

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SIMPONI ARIA^® (golimumab) is a prescription medicine. SIMPONI ARIA^® can lower your ability to fight infections. There are reports of serious infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses that have spread throughout the body, including tuberculosis (TB) and histoplasmosis. Some of these infections have been fatal. Your doctor will test you for TB before starting SIMPONI ARIA^® and will closely monitor you for signs of TB during treatment. Tell your doctor if you have been in close contact with people with TB. Tell your doctor if you have been in a region (such as the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys and the Southwest) where certain fungal infections like histoplasmosis or coccidioidomycosis are common.

You should not receive SIMPONI ARIA^® if you have any kind of infection. Tell your doctor if you are prone to or have a history of infections or have diabetes, HIV or a weak immune system. You should also tell your doctor if you are currently being treated for an infection or if you have or develop any signs of an infection such as:

fever, sweat, or chills
muscle aches
cough
shortness of breath
blood in phlegm
weight loss
warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body
diarrhea or stomach pain
burning when you urinate or urinate more than normal
feel very tired

Your doctor will examine you for TB and perform a test to see if you have TB. If your doctor feels that you are at risk for TB, you may be treated with medicine for TB before you begin treatment with SIMPONI ARIA^® and during treatment with SIMPONI ARIA^®. Even if your TB test is negative, your doctor should carefully monitor you for TB infections while you are taking SIMPONI ARIA^®. People who had a negative TB skin test before receiving SIMPONI ARIA^® have developed active TB. Tell your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms while taking or after taking SIMPONI ARIA^®:

cough that does not go away
low grade fever
weight loss
loss of body fat and muscle (wasting)

Unusual cancers have been reported in children and teenage patients taking Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-blocker medicines. For children and adults receiving TNF blockers, including SIMPONI ARIA^®, the chances for getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, a rare and fatal lymphoma, has occurred mostly in teenage or young adult males with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis who were taking a TNF blocker with azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine. You should tell your doctor if you have had or develop lymphoma or other cancers.

Some people treated with SIMPONI ARIA^® developed skin cancer. Tell your doctor if any changes in the appearance of your skin or growths on your skin occur during or after your treatment with SIMPONI ARIA^®. Your doctor should periodically examine your skin, especially if you have a history of skin cancer.

Tell your doctor about all the medications you take including ORENCIA^® (abatacept), KINERET^® (anakinra), ACTEMRA^® (tocilizumab), RITUXAN^® (rituximab), or another TNF blocker, or if you are scheduled to or recently received a vaccine. People receiving SIMPONI ARIA^® should not receive live vaccines or treatment with a weakened bacteria (such as BCG for bladder cancer).

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus has been reported in patients who are carriers of this virus and are receiving TNF-blocker medicines, such as SIMPONI ARIA^®. Some of these cases have been fatal. Your doctor should do blood tests before and after you start treatment with SIMPONI ARIA^®. Tell your doctor if you know or think you may be a carrier of hepatitis B virus or if you experience signs of hepatitis B infection, such as:

feel very tired
dark urine
skin or eyes look yellow
little or no appetite
vomiting
muscle aches
clay-colored bowel movements
fever
chills
stomach discomfort
skin rash

Heart failure can occur or get worse in people who use TNF blockers, including SIMPONI ARIA^®. If you develop new or worsening heart failure with SIMPONI ARIA^®, you may need treatment in a hospital, and it may result in death. Your doctor will closely monitor you if you have heart failure. Tell your doctor right away if you get new or worsening symptoms of heart failure like shortness of breath, swelling of your lower legs or feet, or sudden weight gain.

Rarely, people using TNF blockers, including SIMPONI ARIA^®, can have nervous system problems such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms like vision changes, weakness in your arms or legs, or numbness or tingling in any part of your body.

Rarely, people using TNF blockers have developed lupus-like symptoms. Tell your doctor if you have any symptoms such as a rash on your cheeks or other parts of the body, sensitivity to the sun, new joint or muscle pain, becoming very tired, chest pain or shortness of breath, swelling of the feet, ankles or legs.

Serious liver problems can happen in people using TNF blockers, including SIMPONI ARIA^®. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms such as feeling very tired, skin or eyes look yellow, poor appetite or vomiting, or pain on the right side of your stomach.

Low blood counts have been seen with people using TNF blockers, including SIMPONI ARIA^®. If this occurs, your body may not make enough blood cells to help fight infections or help stop bleeding. Your doctor will check your blood counts before and during treatment. Tell your doctor if you have signs such as fever, bruising, bleeding easily, or paleness.

Allergic reactions can happen in people who use TNF-blocker medicines, including SIMPONI ARIA^®. Tell your doctor if you have any symptoms of an allergic reaction while receiving SIMPONI ARIA^® such as hives, swollen face, breathing trouble, or chest pain. Some reactions can be serious and life-threatening.

Tell your doctor if you have psoriasis.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed, or have a baby and received SIMPONI ARIA^® during pregnancy. Tell your baby’s doctor before your baby receives any vaccine because of an increased risk of infection for up to 6 months after birth.

The most common side effects of SIMPONI ARIA^® include: upper respiratory infection, abnormal liver tests, decreased blood cells that fight infection, viral infections, bronchitis, high blood pressure, and rash.

Please read the full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for SIMPONI ARIA^® and discuss any questions you have with your doctor.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment options

Select A TREATMENT OPTION to learn more

Learn about the different types
of medications used to treat
rheumatoid arthritis

NSAIDs

DMARDs

Biologics

Anti-TNF Biologics

Explore more about SIMPONI ARIA®

INDICATIONS

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment options

Select A TREATMENT OPTION to learn more

Learn about the different types of medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis

NSAIDs

DMARDs

Biologics

Anti-TNF Biologics

Explore more about SIMPONI ARIA®

Learn about the different types
of medications used to treat
rheumatoid arthritis