What is dmards?

DMARDs are used for many different conditions. They reduce inflammation, relieve symptoms such as pain, and can help slow some diseases. In some conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, they may prevent joint damage and disability when they are started early.

DMARDs are used to treat conditions such as:

• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
• Ankylosing spondylitis.
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Here are some examples of DMARDs. For each item in the list, the generic name is first, followed by any brand names.

Some DMARDs are taken as pills, some are given as shots, and others are injected into a vein (infused).

• adalimumab (Humira)
• azathioprine (Zasan, Imuran)
• etanercept (Enbrel)
• infliximab (Remicade)
• leflunomide (Arava)
• methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall)

This is not a complete list of DMARDs.

While taking this medicine, some people feel sick to their stomach or get a skin rash. Other side effects include flu-like symptoms and feeling tired.

Cautions for DMARDs include the following:

• Because DMARDs act on the immune system, you may have a higher chance of getting certain infections and certain cancers.