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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Could Remicade And Humira Be The Last Option In Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Hi, Dr. Shehu: I am now using the steriod Uceris together with Lomotil. My condition has not improved. My local gastroenterologist will switch me to prednisone if I do not see results in another week. Remicade or Humira would be drugs of last resort. Does this sound right to you?
Tue, 20 Jun 2023
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hi,

Remicade (infliximab) and Humira (adalimumab) are two medications that belong to a class of drugs known as biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). They are commonly used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when other treatment options have not been effective or well-tolerated. However, whether they are considered the "last option" depends on various factors, including the severity of the disease, individual patient response, and other available treatment options.

In general, the treatment approach for RA involves a step-wise progression, starting with conventional synthetic DMARDs (such as methotrexate) as the first-line treatment. If these medications fail to control the symptoms adequately or if the disease progresses, biologic DMARDs like Remicade and Humira may be considered as the next step.

It's important to note that there are other biologic DMARDs available, such as Enbrel (etanercept), Rituxan (rituximab), and Orencia (abatacept), which may also be used in the treatment of RA. The choice of medication depends on factors like patient preference, response to previous treatments, potential side effects, and physician's recommendation.

Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Muhammad Umer Farooq, General & Family Physician
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Could Remicade And Humira Be The Last Option In Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Hi, Remicade (infliximab) and Humira (adalimumab) are two medications that belong to a class of drugs known as biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). They are commonly used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when other treatment options have not been effective or well-tolerated. However, whether they are considered the last option depends on various factors, including the severity of the disease, individual patient response, and other available treatment options. In general, the treatment approach for RA involves a step-wise progression, starting with conventional synthetic DMARDs (such as methotrexate) as the first-line treatment. If these medications fail to control the symptoms adequately or if the disease progresses, biologic DMARDs like Remicade and Humira may be considered as the next step. It s important to note that there are other biologic DMARDs available, such as Enbrel (etanercept), Rituxan (rituximab), and Orencia (abatacept), which may also be used in the treatment of RA. The choice of medication depends on factors like patient preference, response to previous treatments, potential side effects, and physician s recommendation. Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Muhammad Umer Farooq, General & Family Physician