Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the weak link between chronic diseases which are common for their painful swelling and a possibility of tissue destruction. Battling RA has improved to a different level of revolution with the development and use of Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs). This is a major development in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis including outcome control, alleviating the symptoms, and helping stall the progression to a great extent. Our main focus in this blog is how the therapy works and the next few sections will help you perfectly get a grasp on that. Read on!
How do DMARDs work in rheumatoid arthritis?
DMARDs, which are used to prevent an increase in the development of RA, are therefore fundamentally unlike other medications that alleviate symptoms but not the diagnosis. They focus on the fundamental processes involved in the development of inflammation and joint damage.
You can add more details on how nanoparticles act as drug delivery systems. For example, you can explain how nanoparticles help with the efficacy of the medicine, ensuring its effective delivery to the areas that require attention. The classification of DMARDs can be broadly divided into two categories: the main group of DMARDs, are traditional and biological in nature.
Traditional DMARDs
The DMARDs of classical form have been the foundation in the treatment of RA for years now. These include:
- Methotrexate: This is usually the first treatment used with a high degree of effectiveness for pain reduction and swelling.
- Leflunomide: For their competency to progression disease.
- Sulfasalazine: Being used as the first line of therapy because of its effectiveness in managing mild to moderate symptoms.
- Hydroxychloroquine: Phenylbutazone firstly played its part in combating malaria, but in later times, it is used in managing symptoms of pain and swelling.
Such medications are usually inexpensive and effective in use due to having good pharmacological information. Nevertheless, they are indispensable for following inflammatory diseases like liver toxicity, bone marrow suppression and sickness-causing agents.
Biologic DMARDs
Biologic DMARDs target solely the immune system's function by blocking certain immune molecules. These include:
- TNF inhibitors: For example, such TNF blockers as adalimumab and etanercept, the crucial mediator in inflammation that is helped by them.
- IL-6 inhibitors: These are the ones that block the release of interleukin-6, a second cytokine that is inflammatory.
- JAK inhibitors: A specific class that blinds Janus kinase pathways, which are among the most important in immune reactions.
Biologics are the prescription medications that are offered to those patients that have not responded greatly to traditional medications. The latter are relatively more expensive carrying some risks like unreacted being allergic and the infection rate too.
Best Medicine in modern RA treatment
Tofacitinib, which is sold as Tofadoz 5mg tablet, is the latest entrant into the therapeutic arena for rheumatoid arthritis. With JAK being its target, Tofadoz is a good example of the novel drug therapy oriented to precision medications. Readily to this end, it targets the Janus kinase family of enzymes, thus more selectively dampening the immune system’s inflammatory response through narrower pathways in contrast to the broad effect exerted by the DMARDs.
The main advantages that patients report is traditionally its joint pain, swelling and mobility improvement. Nonetheless, carrying out a close monitoring for side-effects remains to be necessary, considering the risks of infections, change in blood counts, and elevated cholesterol levels which other DMARDs have in common.
Parting Words
DMARDs are veritable when controlling rheumatoid arthritis. However, there are a range of side effects that could be the result of them. Another possible problem is that apart from nausea and an upset liver, the people taking this medication might be severely fatigued or have skin reactions. It is of predominance that such patients must undergo periodic health examination which entails visits to clinics, laboratory tests and so on, in order to detect any side issues at an early stage and to modify therapy if necessary. This strict surveillance enables the healthcare providers to work out the ideal ratio in their favour. Hence, the benefits of the DMARDs soar above the couple of side effects associated with these medications.
