Leflunomide and Blood Pressure: What You Need to Know
Learn how leflunomide may affect blood pressure, who’s at risk, and practical steps to monitor and manage any rise while staying on the medication.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication Overview
When dealing with rheumatoid arthritis medication, drugs prescribed to control the inflammation and joint damage of rheumatoid arthritis. Also known as RA meds, it forms the cornerstone of disease management.
Understanding rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition that attacks synovial joints helps you pick the right therapy. The disease typically brings pain, swelling, and morning stiffness; without treatment it can cause permanent joint erosion.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), a class of meds that slow disease progression are usually the first line. Methotrexate, leflunomide and hydroxychloroquine belong to this group. DMARDs work by dampening the immune system’s overactivity, which reduces joint damage over months rather than days.
Biologic therapies, large‑molecule drugs that block specific inflammatory pathways such as TNF‑α inhibitors (etanercept, adalimumab) step in when DMARDs fall short. They often bring quick symptom relief, but patients need infection screening and regular monitoring.
Nonsteroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), pain‑relieving agents that reduce inflammation like ibuprofen or naproxen are useful for flare‑ups. NSAIDs ease pain but do not halt disease progression and can irritate the stomach or affect kidney function.
JAK inhibitors, oral small‑molecule drugs that block Janus kinase pathways such as tofacitinib provide an injectable‑free option, especially for patients who cannot tolerate biologics. They share the same goal of curbing immune signaling while offering convenient dosing.
Effective rheumatoid arthritis medication management requires regular blood tests, liver function checks, and patient education about side‑effects. Knowing which drug class you’re on – whether a DMARD, biologic, NSAID, or JAK inhibitor – guides the frequency of monitoring and helps you catch problems early.
Below you’ll find a curated list of articles that dive deeper into each drug class, compare brand‑name and generic options, discuss dosage tricks, and spell out safety warnings. Use these resources to build a treatment plan that fits your lifestyle and health goals.