Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 12/09/2016 - 16:10

Learn about different medications used to treat RA

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

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NSAIDs

Often prescribed by doctors when RA first starts, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help reduce pain, stiffness, and swelling, although they don’t stop further joint damage. Many NSAIDs, like ibuprofen (such as Motrin^®* and Advil^®*) and naproxen (such as Aleve^®*) are available at drug stores without a prescription. Others, like Celebrex^®*, 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.

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SIMPONI ARIA^®

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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 inflammation or swelling caused by the disease. Biologics are usually prescribed for people whose symptoms have not fully responded to DMARDs, such as methotrexate. Doctors have found that when methotrexate is combined with some anti-TNF biologic treatments, such as SIMPONI ARIA^®, the 2 medications working together can be helpful in the treatment of symptoms of moderate to severe RA and in helping to stop further joint damage.

Please read the full Prescribing Information including Boxed Warnings, and Medication Guide for SIMPONI ARIA^®, and discuss any questions with your doctor.

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SIMPONI ARIA^®

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anti-TNF biologics

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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

Unusual cancers have been reported in children and teenage patients taking 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
clay-colored bowel movements
dark urine
fevers
skin or eyes look yellow
little or no appetite
vomiting
muscle aches
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 or are breastfeeding 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, 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.

042590-151029

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Rheumatoid arthritis treatment options

Learn about different medications used to treat RA

NSAIDs

DMARDs

Biologics

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