where is a full list of RA drugs available?

[lindyloo2018]

Hi

I need to find out the full list of possible RA drugs, RA consult only offering mtx and I need to find out what other dmards are possible.

many thanks

[Gnarli]

I think your best option is to access the NRAS website. They have information on practically everything you need to know about RA. There is also a wonderful helpline.

[Munro76]

You can download or order a hard copy of 'medicines of RA' from NRAS. It's a really good guide with all the info you need on RA medications.

[helixhelix]

As others have said the NRAS guides provide lots of information. However they don’t give all the prescribing information for doctors, so won’t help you know what your doctors would be prepared to prescribe. For example they don’ t like giving Lef to people with high blood pressure. It is your doctor’s professional judgement.

[Madmusiclover]

What the others have said: as well as DMARDS there are biologics and JAKS too!

[AgedCrone]

You can look on the. NHS website to see a long list of drugs prescribed for RA….but it won’t mean you can just choose one….even GP’s don’t choose the drugs RA patients take.

You need to speak with your rheumatologist who is trained to diagnose individuals & will know which drugs are suitable for you to take…..& more importantly those which you can’t. The patient can’t choose one that they see has suited somebody else…..it takes a specialist to understand how you will react to each drug,

If your rheumy is advising Methotrexate he must think you are a suitable cadndate to be helped by it….who knows you may react really well?

Another reason to try Mtx…. is that if you want to move onto biologic drugs, you usually have to have failed on either 2 or 3 DMards one of which is always methotrexate.

Good Luck…..hope you get some help soon,

[lindyloo2018 in reply to AgedCrone]

thanks, I have been on mtx for the last 5 years albeit at a lower dosage, but it gives me oral side effects..so upping the dose to control ra may not be a wise path..maybe another drug instead or added would be better...

[Aporiac in reply to lindyloo2018]

I got nasty side effects (mouth ulcers, serious stomach problems and nausea) when taking methotrexate orally, which were significantly reduced by switching to injections (20mg/week subcutaneously). However, methotrexate alone doesn't control my symptoms (it helps, but I still get regular flare ups). The next step was methotrexate plus sulfasalazine, but that made me really sick and gave me intolerable kidney pain. After further scans and tests, my rheumatologist finally prescribed a biologic to be taken in combination with methotrexate. Cost is a major factor in the reluctance to add a biologic - they are very expensive drugs. Methotrexate is the first port of call because it is effective in many cases, and also because it's cheap! Cost of treatment always figures in the reckoning - your rheumatologist will only bump up your meds if he/she thinks your condition can't be managed without doing so, and the likely improvement justifies the expense.

[AgedCrone in reply to lindyloo2018]

That is what your rheumatologist will decide…so do be sure to tell all the side effects you think Mtx is causing you.

You can only be prescribed what is best for you, if your doctor knows the real reason you want off a particular drug…..as you must know, an awful lot of people are very wary of taking Mtx….. because those who do have a bad time on it are very willing to say so, but those who do very well on it very rarely write about how it has helped them…they are too busy getting on with their lives.

After all, Rheumatologist wouldn’t be throwing it around like Smarties if 99% of patients told them they hated it …now would they ?

Hope your rheumy comes up with a solution soon.

[lindyloo2018 in reply to AgedCrone]

well he is not helping he wants to keep me on mtx and prednisalone but as a diabetic

living on prednisalone is not an option, it raises my blood glucose levels and bye bye my hba1c and hello to loads of infections.

[AgedCrone in reply to lindyloo2018]

Get on to your rheumy nurse…they usually”get it” better than rheumies who sometimes get set in their ways & start to think one mix of drugs suit all..until their nurses get involved. ……