Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication Side Effects
There are many different medication types used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, among them: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), immunosuppressants, TNF-alpha inhibitors, anakinra, abatacept and rituximab. Each medication carries its own potential for side effects, which can be as mild as weight gain to something as severe as worsening congestive heart failure or even death (in cases of untreated infection). In addition, some side effects can produce a round face and cataracts.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Defined
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Inflammation of the lining (synovium) of bone joints is the result of rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that causes swelling to occur in the joints, often resulting in pain, even for menial tasks like opening a food jar. The condition can affect any joint, but usually occurs in the hands, arms, knees and legs. And, unfortunately, it can sometimes lead to deformity or an inability to walk without excruciating pain. No cure exists, but medications can help with the pain and slow the rate of the disease; however, they can also cause some serious side effects too, like gastric ulcers and ringing in the ears.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects
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Stomach and gastrointestinal bleeding, as well as gastric ulcers and liver and kidney damage are side effects that can occur when individuals use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat rheumatoid arthritis. This type of drug can also cause side effects like ringing in the ear and heart problems too.
Generally it is the prescription version of this drug that is a concern for such side effects; however, over-the-counter NSAIDs also pose a risk as well if not taken in accordance with bottle labels, or combined with other medications, or used for extended periods of time.
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Heart Failure and Blood Disorders
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While use of NSAIDs to treat rheumatoid arthritis can cause heart problem side effects, TNF-alpha inhibitor medications have a similar, but more serious side effect. They can actually worsen existing congestive heart failure. In addition, they can also cause blood disorders, lymphoma and demyelinating diseases. Their use can also increase an individual's risk of infection too.
Infections
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Just as TNF-alpha inhibitor arthritis medication can increase a person's risk of infection (including more serious infections like tuberculosis); immunosuppressant drugs can increase infection risk too.
Anakinra medications (Kineret) increase risk for upper respiratory infections, especially for those already suffering from asthma. Abatacept (Orencia) medications can cause both mild infections of the upper respiratory tract, as well as more serious infections like pneumonia. And rituximab (Rituxan), although only linked to one fatal brain infection, poses a risk of infection, too.
Other Side Effects
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While rheumatoid arthritis medications like corticosteroids (prednisone) can reduce swelling, pain and delay joint deterioration, their use for extended periods of time can also cause bone thinning, cataracts, ease in bruising, a rounded face, diabetes and weight gain. A decrease in white blood cell counts and headaches can be a side effect of anakina (Kineret), while abatacept (Orencia) can also cause headaches as well as nausea. Rituximab (Rituxan) can cause nausea and difficulty breathing, fever and chills.
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