Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) decrease or stop joint damage caused by conditions including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. DMARDs reduce swelling and pain, slowing or sometimes stopping the progression of the condition being treated.

Some DMARDs are used mainly to treat cancer or prevent rejection of an organ transplant.  

Exactly how DMARDs work is not completely understood, but they appear to help suppress the immune system. RA, the condition for which DMARDs are most often prescribed, is an autoimmune disease, in which the body mistakenly attacks its own tissues. This causes joint inflammation that can cause irreparable damage.

Many physicians prescribe DMARDs early in the diagnosis of RA. Research has shown that DMARDs can prevent or delay damage to joints. However, they have some potentially serious side effects, such as headache, cold or flu-like symptoms and stomach pain. Patients who have been prescribed DMARDs are monitored regularly by a physician.

DMARDs do not provide immediate relief and may take months to be effective. Treatments may involve multiple DMARDs or a combination of DMARDs and other medicines, such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). As a result, numerous drug combinations involving DMARDs are possible.

They are usually taken by mouth but can also be injected, usually in the physician’s office or in a hospital. DMARDs are available only by prescription.

Some medical conditions (e.g., alcoholism) make the use of DMARDs less effective or even dangerous, depending on the medication being used and the condition itself. Pregnant or breastfeeding women are generally discouraged from taking DMARDs in most circumstances. Children can take DMARDs for certain conditions, such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, but are monitored closely for side effects. 

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) decrease or stop joint damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other conditions and diseases and can often preserve use of joints. Some DMARDs were developed to treat RA, but others originated as drugs to treat cancer or malaria or to prevent rejection of organ transplants.

DMARDs work by suppressing the body’s immune and/or inflammatory systems to slow down or stop the progression of the condition being treated. However, how exactly this is accomplished is not known. DMARDs are usually taken orally but can also be injected.

Because of the potential for serious side effects, in the past this group of drugs was used as a second option against RA when less potent drugs, such as aspirin or other NSAIDs, had proven ineffective. However, research has shown that people with RA treated earlier with DMARDs tend to have better long-term results, greater mobility and a smaller risk of premature death. As a result, today DMARDs are often prescribed early in the course of the disease.  Research has also shown that the combination of DMARDs started earlier has been beneficial in reducing joint damage, pain and swelling in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment for RA usually begins within about three months of the onset of the disease to help prevent joint damage before it begins. DMARDs often help prevent much of this damage while also reducing pain, inflexibility and helping maintain physical mobility. Because their effectiveness may diminish over time, patients may be prescribed several different DMARDs over the course of the disease.

DMARDs are not designed for immediate relief and may not work for everyone. They often take several weeks or months of treatment before the effects are noticeable. Therapy with DMARDs may cause arthritis to go into remission, but the disease often recurs once treatment is stopped. As a result, patients may be encouraged to continue the use of DMARDs even if the progression of RA has ceased. Recent research suggests that patients who respond poorly to a DMARD initially can have better results when retrying the drug later.

Patients are often prescribed DMARDs in combination with other immunosuppressives, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors or other biologic response modifiers (BRMs). Other medicines, such as NSAIDS, corticosteroids or other analgesics, may be used along with DMARDs to help alleviate symptoms, though DMARDs may make the need for their use less frequent. Combinations of DMARDs may be used over the long term, with adverse effects being no more common than when only one DMARD is used for treatment.

The most common types of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) used to treat pain conditions are:

The most commonly administered DMARDs include:

• Methotrexate (Folex, Rheumatrex, Trexall). Regularly used to treat cancer and psoriasis. Methotrexate is also the most commonly used DMARD for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It reduces inflammation by obstructing how the body metabolizes folic acid. It can be given orally or injected. Long-term use can damage the liver, making routine tests of liver function necessary. Use of alcohol should be avoided when taking methotrexate. Recent research suggests that use of methotrexate may prevent undifferentiated (generalized) arthritis from escalating to RA.
  
  
• Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil). Originally used to treat malaria, hydroxychloroquine is also used for patients with  RA. Taken orally, hydroxychloroquine suppresses the immune system’s reaction to RA that causes pain and inflammation. Eye exams may be given about every six months because visual impairment is a rare side effect of the drug.  Visual impairment usually occurs at higher doses, and the doses used these days are substantially low.
  
  
• Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine). A combination of salicylate and an antibiotic. Sulfasalazine blocks inflammation and restrains bacteria growth and is given in liquid or tablet form. It is most commonly used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, but also for other conditions, such as RA, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. The most common side effect is nausea and abdominal pain. It can also increase sensitivity to sunlight.
  
  
• Methotrexate (Folex, Rheumatrex). Regularly used for cancer and psoriasis treatment. Methotrexate is also the most commonly used DMARD to treat RA. It reduces inflammation by obstructing how the body metabolizes folic acid. It can be given orally or injected. Long-term use can damage the liver, making routine tests of liver function necessary. Use of alcohol should be avoided when taking methotrexate.  
  
  
• Leflunomide (Arava). The only DMARD specifically developed for the treatment of RA. Given orally, leflunomide may reduce pain and inflammation associated with RA. Leflunomide may also be used to treat certain cancers, such as leukemia.
  
  
• Gold salt compounds: auranofin (Ridaura), aurothioglucose (Solganal), aurothiomalate or gold sodium thiomalate (Aurolate, Myochrysine). Rarely used to treat RA and other diseases (e.g., psoriatic arthritis). Gold salt compounds can be injected or taken orally. How they work is unclear, but they are believed to interfere with white blood cells which cause joint damage and inflammation. Gold compounds cannot reverse pre-existing joint damage or deformities. Regular blood and urine tests are often given to monitor for possible serious side effects, including kidney problems.
  
  
• Penicillamine (Cuprimine, Depen). A distant relative of the antibiotic penicillin. Given orally, penicillamine is rarely used to treat RA. Penicillamine is thought to change the function of white blood cells that cause damage in joints. However, the mechanism through which this occurs is unclear.  Penicillamine may be given along with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in some cases. Gold salt compounds and penicillamine should not be taken together because of increased risk of side effects to the kidneys.
  
  
• Cyclosporine and azathioprine (Sandimmune, Neoral and Imuran). Originally manufactured to prevent rejection of transplanted organs by suppressing the immune system. These drugs may also be used to treat RA in some cases.   

Other DMARDs include chlorambucil (Leukeran) and cyclosphosphamide (Cytoxan), which are used mainly to treat cancer, and mycophenolate (CellCept), which is used mainly to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ. They may sometimes be prescribed for severe renal or other organ disease.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors such as adalimumab (Humira), etanercept (Enbrel) and infliximab (Remicade) are sometimes grouped in with DMARDs but generally are considered to be part of a related class of immunosuppressive drugs called biologic response modifiers (BRMs). They also treat conditions such as RA and psoriatic arthritis, and their benefits and risks may be similar to those of DMARDs.

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may be used independently or in combination with other drugs to treat various diseases, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A chronic, inflammatory disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack the joints. This is by far the most common disease treated with DMARDs.
  
  
• Psoriatic arthritis.  A form of arthritis that develops in some people with the skin disease psoriasis.
  
  
• Felty’s syndrome.  Associated with RA. Felty’s syndrome occurs when a person with RA also has an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) and an unusually low white blood cell count.
  
  
• Palindromic rheumatism. Intermittent episodes of arthritis. Individuals with this rare disease have repeated arthritic attacks but without producing irreversible changes in the joints.
  
  
• Ankylosing spondylitis. A rare, painful form of arthritis that affects the spine, causing bones to grow together. DMARDs may be prescribed to treat pain and inflammation.
  
  
• Scleroderma. A rare disease that causes hardening and tightening of skin and connective tissues. DMARDs may be used to treat symptoms of scleroderma, such as joint pain or stiffness, curling and pain or numbness in fingers.
  
  
• Systemic lupus erythematosus. A chronic autoimmune disorder in which natural antibodies attack several systems of the body. DMARDs may help treat and alleviate pain and inflammation from attacks of lupus. DMARDs can also address the kidney damage that can result from lupus or other conditions.
  
  
• Colitis. Inflammation of the colon with symptoms that include abdominal pain and cramps. DMARDs may help treat this condition.
  
  
• Cancer pain. DMARDs can help treat and alleviate pain associated with some cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma. And the primary use of some DMARDs is to fight the cancer itself.

As immunosuppressants, DMARDs are also used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs.

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) each have different chemical properties. Accordingly, DMARDs may respond differently depending on the condition being treated, the drug being used, the dosage and characteristics of the patient.

In general, patients are encouraged to drink a lot of fluids to increase urine output. Prolonged exposure to sunlight should be avoided when DMARDs are prescribed, including the use of a highly protective sunscreen. In addition, because DMARDs may affect the immune system, proper oral hygiene will help prevent mouth infections from occurring.

Potentially serious side effects or reduced effectiveness of DMARDs may occur in patients with any of the following conditions:

• DMARD allergies
• Alcoholism
• Bone marrow or blood toxicities
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Dermatitis
• Kidney or liver damage, including hepatitis
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Colitis
• Cancer

The potential benefits of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) should be weighed against possible side effects. The condition being treated will influence the choice and dosage of DMARDs. A physician should be consulted regularly during any treatment program involving DMARDs.

Patients who regularly use DMARDs are often carefully monitored for side effects in several ways, such as blood tests, urine tests, eye exams and chest x-ray. Depending on the disease, the DMARDs prescribed and the overall condition of the patient, certain side effects may occur. They include:  

• Stomach pain, diarrhea or constipation
• Nausea or vomiting
• Headache
• Joint pain or swelling
• Skin rash
• Increased sensitivity to sunlight
• Mouth or throat sores
• High blood pressure
• Increased vulnerability to infection, including in the eyes
• Cold or flu-like symptoms, such as fever
• Hair loss
• Low blood count, low white blood cell count

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been linked to increased risk of developing lymphoma. Some studies have suggested that this could be due to use of certain DMARDs, but recent research indicates that the inflammation of RA may account for the cancer risk and that the medications do not appear to be a factor, with the possible exception of azathioprine, which is seldom used to treat RA.

Many drug interactions with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) exist. Patients are encouraged to consult a physician before taking any additional prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, nutritional supplements or herbal medications.

Patients are advised to discuss with a physician whether vaccines should be administered when taking DMARDs. In addition, several DMARDs may cause an increase in sun sensitivity. Eating grapefruit or drinking the juice should be avoided before or after taking the DMARD cyclosporine. Recent research also suggests that pomegranate juice may affect some medications like grapefruit juice does. Use of antacids at the same time as sulfasalazine is not recommended.

Some types of medication may reduce the effectiveness or cause side effects in patients taking DMARDs, depending on the situation of the patient. They include:

• Antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals
• Anticonvulsants
• Birth control pills (oral contraceptives)
• Heart medications
• NSAIDs, including aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen
• Tuberculosis drugs

Blood pressure, kidney function and liver function are often monitored regularly to protect against side effects. Long-term DMARD therapy in children and pregnant women is usually discouraged. In addition, DMARDs may not be appropriate for patients who have recently undergone radiation therapy.

Symptoms of overdose can be similar to the medication’s side effects but are usually more severe. Patients exhibiting any of these symptoms should contact their physician immediately:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Tremor or seizures
• Headache
• Drowsiness or dizziness
• Visual changes
• Swollen ankles
• Shock
• Hair loss
• Anemia (too few red blood cells)
• Dermatitis (inflammation of the skin)
• Abdominal pain
• Jaundice

Preparing questions in advance can help patients have more meaningful discussions with their physicians regarding their conditions. Patients may wish to ask their doctor the following questions about disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs):

1. Are DMARDs the best choice for me and my condition?
   
   
2. What side effects might I have?
   
   
3. How likely am I to experience serious side effects?
   
   
4. What alternative treatments are available if I choose not to take DMARDs? Will my condition worsen if I do not take DMARDs?
   
   
5. Can my child’s condition be treated with DMARDs?
   
   
6. Can I drink alcohol while I’m using these medications?
   
   
7. Can this DMARD interact with birth control pills or other medications?
   
   
8. How long after childbirth should I wait to resume treatment with DMARDs?
   
   
9. Should I avoid exposure to the sun while using DMARDs? Is it OK if I spend time outside after applying a sunscreen?
   
   
10. Should I receive vaccinations while taking DMARDs?