Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by destructive changes to various joints throughout the body. There are several classes of medications available to treat rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and effects.
NSAIDs
Doctors may begin treating rheumatoid arthritis with a class of medications called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which includes naproxen sodium and ibuprofen. Depending on symptom severity, treatment may begin with nonprescription or prescription versions of these drugs, according to the Mayo Clinic.
DMARDs
Doctors may also use a class of medications called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs to slow rheumatoid arthritis and help protect affected joints. The Mayo Clinic cites examples including sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), methotrexate (Rheumatrex) and leflunomide (Arava).
Corticosteroids
Doctors may address acute symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis with corticosteroids, according to the Mayo Clinic. Medication options include methylprednisolone and prednisone.
TNF Inhibitors
Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis may also include a class of medications called tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, which block the actions of a protein involved in inflammatory reactions, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Example medications include infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira) and etanercept (Enbrel).
Additional Medications
The Mayo Clinic and U.S. National Library of Medicine list additional medication options that include immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Neoral) and azathioprine (Imuran) and white blood cell modulators such as rituximab (Rituxan) and abatacept (Orencia).
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