There are many RA medications out there. Some are pills, others are injections, some are prescribed, others are available over the counter. With so many options, how do you determine which one of the RA medications is right for you?
Of course the first place to start is with an open and honest conversation with your Rheumatologist. Your Rheumatologist can help you weigh the pros and cons of many RA medications (and non medication treatment options).
Everyone’s body is different and that is especially true for people with RA, but it can also be valuable to hear from other RA warriors. Unfortunately, most warriors only know a handful of other people battling RA. Take the survey below to share what medications you have tried with the community and find the most common RA Medications listed after the poll.
Most Common RA Medications
- Prednisone: A steroid used not only for RA, but many other conditions such as lupus, Crohn’s, headaches, and even itching
- Mobic / Meloxicam: A pain relieving (NSAID) pill.
- Celebrex: Is also a pain relieving (NSAID) pill.
- Aleve / Naproxen: Is a pain relieving (NSAID) that is available over that counter. It is commonly used to treat fevers as well as aches and pains
- Remicade: Is an Immunosuppressant that is taken as an injection. It is also used to treat other autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s.
- Plaquenil: Or generically as Hydroxychloroquine, is a Immunosuppressant and anti-parasite that is taken as a pill. It is also used to treat and prevent malaria
- Rituxan: is an injection that is used in arthritis and cancer.
- Enbrel: or Etanercept is an injection that is used in arthritis
- Humira: is an injection that is used in arthritis and IBD.
- Arava: or generically as Leflunomide is Immunosuppressant that is taken as a pill for rheumatoid arthritis in adults.
- Orencia: or Abatacept is an injection used to treat rheumatoid arthritis
- Methotrexate: is a Chemotherapy and immunosuppressant drug that is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis as well as many types of cancer.
