These drugs are used in patients of rheumatoid arthritis in addition to NSAIDs. All of the below mentioned, except corticosteroids, suppress the rheumatic process and bring about a remission; but they do not have non specific anti- inflammatory or analgesic action.
These drugs are referred to as disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Though conventional approach was to induct a DMARD only when NSAIDs failed to afford adequate relief, or when deformity and bony changes progress rapidly; nowadays most rheumatologist add methotrexate / sulfasalazine to NSAIDs even before the latter have failed, so as to delay/reduce deformity and crippling later on.
More than one DMARD may be used concurrently. Corticosteroids are only used only as adjuvants to NSAIDs alone or along with DMARDs.
- Disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
- Gold
- D-Penicillamine
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Sulfasalazine
- Leflunomide
- Immunosuppressants
- Adjuvant drugs: Corticosteroids