search results for celebrex

back to: pharmacy | ask your pharmacist

How is rheumatoid arthritis treated by prescription?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory disease that causes painful swelling, redness, and stiffness of the joints. This type of arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body's immune system attacks its own tissues—the joints in the case of rheumatoid arthritis. It's unclear what initiates this inflammatory process.

Some prescription drugs treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, while others may alter the course of the disease in some people. Medications called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually the first choice for treating the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Prescription NSAIDs include ibuprofen (brand name Motrin), naproxen (Naprosyn), nabumetone (>Relafen), diclofenac (>Voltaren), COX-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib (Celebrex). COX-2 inhibitors are thought to have fewer stomach-related side effects than other NSAIDs.

Corticosteroidssuch as prednisone, >sulfasalazine (Azulfadine), methotrexate (>Rheumatrex), hydroxychloroquine (>Plaquenil), and leflunomide (>Arava), are drugs that are used to slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Etanercept (>Enbrel) and infliximab (Remicade) are newer injectable drugs that work by muffling the immune system's attack on the joints.Enbrel and Remicade are typically prescribed for patients who haven't responded to other treatments

All of these drugs may cause serious side effects and should only be used under the care of your doctor.

Sources:
Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach. Appleton & Lange, 1999.
Applied Therapeutics: The Clinical Use of Drugs. Applied Therapeutics, 1995.
Micromedex Healthcare Series, Micromedex Inc., 2001.
Primer on the Rheumatic Diseases. The Arthritis Foundation, 1997.
"Guidelines for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis", Arthritis & Rheumatism 39 (1996).

This answer prepared 1/17/01.

You searched for "Celebrex"

Here's what we found

Please click a question below for your pharmacist's response.

•	What are the side effects of Celebrex?
•	Are there any drug interactions with Celebrex?
•	What is Celebrex?
•	Are there any prescription treatments for osteoarthritis?
•	Are there any prescription treatments for rheumatoid arthritis?
•	How is rheumatoid arthritis treated by prescription?
•	Can I safely take aspirin if I have asthma?
(1 - 7 of 7)