Arthritis Today's Drug Guide is your up-to-date listing of the many drugs top doctors use to treat arthritis and related conditions. Before you dive into the data, take a little time to become familiar with the guide and the categories of information you'll find in each of the drug class charts. One important caveat: Remember that this guide is not intended to be a tool for self-medication; instead, consult it for background information and then talk with your doctor about your condition and options for your treatment plan.
Drug Names
In each chart, medications are listed alphabetically by generic drug names, followed by the usually better-recognized brand names. Our panel of experts and the U.S. Pharmacopeia Dispensing Information (USP DI) served as sources of information about which drugs to include in the drug guide. The inclusion of a certain drug or brand does not imply endorsement by Arthritis Today or the Arthritis Foundation, nor does the exclusion of a drug or brand imply it is inferior to those listed.
Dosages
For each drug, you'll find dosages listed representing the typically prescribed range. Some conditions require an initial high dosage of a medication, followed by a lower maintenance-level dosage. Always follow your doctor's recommendations about the dosage level that's right for you and your condition. Milligrams are abbreviated "mg" and milliliters, "mL." Also, the dosages listed are for adults up to age 65. Adults older than 65 and children typically require lower dosages.
Special Instructions
The charts provide important information about when and how to take particular medications, such as whether your drugs should be taken with food or on an empty stomach. Due to space limitations, however, we cannot include every instruction included on the package inserts. Always be sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist and read the literature that comes with your medication to make sure you are taking it correctly.
Possible Side Effects
The side effects listed are those more commonly identified in clinical trials and listed in each product's labeling, as well as those our panel of experts see most often in their patients. Side effects are listed in alphabetical order, not in order of likelihood or seriousness. Drugs affect different people differently. You may not experience any of the side effects listed, or you may experience side effects that are not in the list. Be sure to mention any side effects you experience to your doctor. Some unpleasant side effects can be eliminated by adjusting the dosage, whereas others resolve with time or the addition of another medication. However, some side effects are so unpleasant or dangerous that a drug must be stopped.
Be Aware
Additional important information to consider before or during the time you take a drug is listed here, from special blood or eye tests you may need to any pre-existing conditions you may need to consider when deciding whether to start a medication. If any of the words of warning apply to you, your doctor may monitor you for certain side effects, change your dosage or switch your medication.
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