Medications in rheumatology
These are the medicines I use most often in clinic, explained in plain language. Each guide covers what the medicine does, the safety checks I arrange, the red flags to watch for, and the questions patients ask me most.
DMARDs
An anchor medication used to calm inflammation in many rheumatic conditions.
Commonly used in lupus and inflammatory arthritis.
Used in inflammatory arthritis and some related conditions.
An alternative DMARD for inflammatory arthritis.
Used in several autoimmune rheumatic conditions.
Used in lupus and some connective tissue diseases.
A calcineurin-inhibitor immunosuppressant used selectively, with close kidney and blood pressure monitoring.
A strong short-course immunosuppressant used in severe lupus and vasculitis.
Biologics & IV therapies
An infusion for severe Raynaud's phenomenon and digital ulcers.
A specialist infusion used in selected autoimmune conditions.
A biologic used in rheumatoid arthritis and giant cell arteritis.
A TNF inhibitor biologic injection.
A TNF inhibitor infusion, available as the originator Remicade and biosimilars such as Remsima.
An anti-TNF infusion given at Week 0, Week 4, then every 8 weeks.
An IL-17 biologic used in psoriatic and axial disease.
An IL-17 biologic used in psoriatic disease.
A TNF-blocking biologic given by subcutaneous injection.
An anti-CD20 infusion used in rheumatoid arthritis and selected vasculitis.
An anti-IL-5 injection used in EGPA and eosinophilic disease.
An anti-IL-5 receptor injection used in EGPA and eosinophilic disease.
A targeted biologic for lupus, given by infusion or weekly injection.
A targeted type I interferon receptor biologic for adults with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus.
Targeted synthetic DMARDs / JAK inhibitors
Bone health & osteoporosis
A once-yearly infusion to strengthen bones and reduce fracture risk.
A daily bone-building injection for severe osteoporosis and very high fracture risk.
A newer bone-building injection used in severe osteoporosis with high fracture risk.
A twice-yearly injection used to reduce fracture risk in osteoporosis.
An oral bisphosphonate used to protect bones.
Foundational bone-health support that depends on diet and individual risk.
Diabetes & GLP-1 medicines
Gout & crystal arthritis medicines
Pain & nerve-pain medicines
Used mainly for nerve-related pain, with care around sedation and stopping.
Used for nerve-related pain, with care around sedation and kidney function.
Used for fibromyalgia-type pain, osteoarthritis pain and nerve pain.
Low-dose use for nerve pain, persistent pain and migraine prevention.
A prolonged-release opioid combination considered only in selected severe pain.
An opioid painkiller for selected moderate to severe pain, with important cautions.