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Navigating the Treatment Path in Inflammatory Arthritis


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This JointHealth™ podcast is intended as a "primer" for listeners wanting to know more about how to get started on the best treatment path for their rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or psoriatic arthritis.

Topics discussed with Dr. Shojania include:

• The challenge of getting diagnosed
• The impact of the diagnosis
• Accepting one's diagnosis
• Learning about one's treatment options
• The basics about non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) - when do they get used and why, what do they NOT DO
• The basics about disease modifying anti-rheumatic medications (DMARDs) -
  • "Start early, be aggressive" concept
  • A brief description of methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, and sulfasalazine, and how they are used alone and in combination
  • Other DMARDs used if the above list of medications are ineffective
• Biologic response modifiers -
  • Description of each of the five available
• Adalimumab (Humira®) - what it is, how it is given
• Etanercept (Enbrel®) - what it is, how it is given
• Infliximab (Remicade®) - what it is, how it is given
• Abatacept (Orencia®) - what it is, how it is given
• Rituximab (Rituxan®) - what it is, how it is given
• Overcoming the fear of taking medications, including side effects
  • Discussion about the "social stigma" of having to take medications
• Monitoring for side effects delivers "peace of mind"
• Adjusting one's treatment path along the way
• Living life - the good, the bad, the ugly, the good