How to treat rheumatoid arthritis - drugs, course of treatment!

Rheumatoid arthritis is a pathological autoimmune process prone to progression and transition to a chronic form. The essence of the disease is reduced to the occurrence of severe irreversible changes in the joints.

Internal organs can also be involved in the process. Diagnosed in patients of any age. It develops because of an inadequate response of the immune system to certain irritants, which results in the destruction of connective tissue and other constituent joints. According to statistics, women suffer from rheumatoid arthritis more often, but they have a slightly lighter disease course than men.

Next you are invited to learn about the procedure for diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

As with other diseases, it all starts with examining the patient's complaints and visual inspection.

Next, the patient receives a referral for blood tests, the results of which reveal a rheumatoid factor, and also undergoes radiography. If necessary, the specialist will recommend additional methods of diagnosis to obtain a more accurate and complete picture of the course of the disease.

One of the main dangers of rheumatoid arthritis is the fact that many months can pass from the onset of its course to the diagnosis - quite often patients write off unfavorable changes in their state of health by age, which is wrong.

Any alarming symptoms should be the reason for going to the doctor, because the earlier the disease is detected, the higher the chances of its successful and rapid elimination remain.

General information on the treatment of the disease

It is impossible to completely get rid of rheumatoid arthritis as such. Existing therapeutic methods, first of all, help to reduce the severity of inflammatory processes and painful sensations, restore joint function and reduce the likelihood of complications.

To combat pain and inflammation, special anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Additionally, basic therapy based on cytotoxic agents and immunosuppressants is prescribed, due to which the rate of progression of the disease decreases and the patient goes into remission.

therapy In the presence of severe deformities, surgical intervention can be indicated. The decision regarding this issue is made by the attending physician.

Important note! Any joint disease requires an integrated therapeutic approach. Rheumatoid arthritis is not an exception - various physiotherapy techniques, gymnastics, diets and other methods of influence are used to combat it. Today we will discuss in more detail specifically on drug therapy.

Remember: any information is provided for reference only. The presented names and descriptions of the drugs are not a medical prescription and should not be used by patients to compose a program of uncontrolled self-treatment.

Drugs against rheumatoid arthritis

Drug therapy for rheumatoid arthritis includes drugs from several different groups. About them further.

Preparations of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory group

Helps to fight with painful symptoms and contribute to the elimination of inflammation. Along with this, do not give a clinical effect on the direct causes of the disease and do not improve the condition of the joints.

Drugs are selected individually for the patient and are taken in a strictly prescribed dosage. If necessary( no effect, occurrence of side effects, etc.), the doctor will review the composition of the therapy.

Important! Almost never doctors prescribe simultaneous reception of two or more non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - drugs of this group do not combine with each other.

It should be remembered that such medications are not intended for long-term use - there is a high risk of side effects. After eliminating inflammation and pain, the patient is assigned other, non-drug treatment methods.

Basis preparations

? This category includes medicines that affect the course of the disease, which help to significantly reduce the severity of inflammatory processes, reduce the intensity of joint damage or completely prevent them, restore the functional and structural integrity of the affected areas, ie. Do everything to allow the patient to return to normal life.

The information on the most frequently used preparations of basic therapy is given in the table.

Table. Drugs of basic therapy

Drug groups	Names
Drugs of hydroxychloroquine	The most widely distributed drug under the trade name Plakvenil is on sale.
Methotrexate preparations	The most recognizable is Revmatrecox.
Gold salts	For sale, for example, under the trade names Solganal, Ridaoura, etc.
D-penicillamine	Couprenil
Sulfasalazine	For example, Azulphidine.
Azathioprine	Most commonly found under the trade name Imuran.
Leflunomide	For example, Arava.
Neoral	Widely known as Neoral, Sandimmun and others.

Drugs are taken by courses - you should not count on the instantaneous effect. For example, methotrexate allows a little to ease the patient's condition for 1-1,5 months, while hydroxychloroquine requires an average of 2-3 months. To achieve more meaningful clinical results, in most cases, drugs must be taken longer than the indicated time.

Minocycline

In some cases( mainly at the initial, unopened stages of the disease), this antibacterial drug can become an objective substitute for sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine.

Biological response modifiers

Designed to reduce the severity of inflammatory processes and prevent the appearance of such.

In contrast to the previously studied "basic" drugs, they start to act relatively quickly - positive changes are noted after 2-4 weeks.

Biological group preparations are designed for both single and complex applications. Are characterized by a rather high cost, that is why they are used mainly in the absence of the necessary effectiveness of taking "basic" preparations or if the patient is found to be intolerant of those in the dosages necessary for treatment.

Drugs of this group are intended for administration by subcutaneous or intravenous injection.

Important! Biological preparations suppress immunity, so they are forbidden to prescribe to patients with dangerous infectious diseases, tuberculosis, lymphoma( both current and past) and a number of other diseases - this moment requires individual clarification from the treating specialist.

Glucocorticoids

Characterized by a strong anti-inflammatory effect. Among the most prominent representatives of the category should be noted prednisone, as well as prednisolone. There are modifications for oral, intravenous and intra-articular use. Relatively fast suppress symptoms of the disease in the form of stiffness, pain, swelling, etc.

Most often used in the presence of severe forms of pathological process, accompanied by a pronounced restriction of mobility and, in general, a significant deterioration in the quality of life. In the case of such patients, the use of glucocorticoids suppresses symptoms and restores functioning until an appropriate time is available for the initiation of the use of other drugs prescribed by courses and characterized by a slower action.

The problem is that the use of glucocorticosteroids can provoke a number of side effects, for example, weight gain, cataract, osteoporosis, a decrease in the body's resistance to infections, and the like. That is why they are used only in extreme cases.

Analgesics of non-narcotic group

Reduces painful sensations. Some also have anti-inflammatory effects. The most commonly used drugs are analgin and acetylsalicylic acid. For topical application can be recommended ointments based on capsaicin, for example, Zostricks.

Narcotic analgesics can only be used as emergency aid and in exceptional situations. The use of such in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, characterized by a prolonged course, can provoke the emergence of dependence.

Along with this, in the presence of severe complications of rheumatoid arthritis and the lack of the possibility of effective and safe use of surgical methods, narcotic analgesics can be the only salvation for the patient. In this case, they should be used under the strict supervision of a professional rheumatologist and / or a qualified anesthetic specialist with this group.

Drugs for the treatment of sudden exacerbations of

The course of the disease in question can be accompanied by sudden "flares", i.e.temporary exacerbations. Patients undergoing treatment with glucocorticoids in the tablet form or methotrexate are often helped by the same drugs in a higher dosage.

Also manifestations of severe inflammation can be eliminated by injections of corticosteroids. During periods of exacerbation, patients are recommended bed rest or at least the maximum possible state of rest. In some cases, hospitalization is carried out.

may need to be hospitalized. Recommendations for the future

To minimize the risk of complications in the future, patients with rheumatoid arthritis need to adhere to several important recommendations.

First, patients should abandon any bad habits and minimize the use of coffee.

Secondly, must comply with a special diet. So, fatty meat varieties, citrus fruits, potatoes, some cereals and the like are not recommended. At the same time, the content of natural sour-milk products, carrots, coriander and other products with carotenoids should be increased in the diet. More detailed recommendations on the correct diet will be provided by the appropriate specialist, comprehensively assessing the patient's condition and individual characteristics of the course of his illness.

Third, there should be reduced the load on the joints. So, patients with excess weight need to get rid of that. To strengthen the body, special gymnastics is prescribed, various physiotherapy techniques are used, etc.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a very serious disease. Along with this, if the disease is diagnosed at an early stage and will be treated accordingly, serious complications and accompanying adverse complications will be avoided, while preserving the quality of life at a normal level.

Consult a doctor if the first adverse changes in your condition are detected, follow the recommendations and be healthy!

Video - How to treat rheumatoid arthritis