Biological treatment
Your rheumatologist will also recommend some biological treatment such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) [5] inhibitors, they affect how the immune system works. TNF-alpha (an inflammatory substance) is produced when the human body faces an infection or other threat. TNF-alpha inhibitors suppress the substance and help prevent inflammation.
TNF-alpha inhibitors are a very effective medication to treat RA. They help reduce pain, stiffness, and swollen joints. An improvement is noticed after two weeks of starting treatment. Some biological treatments include certolizumab pegol, adalimumab (Humira), infliximab (Remicade), and etanercept (Enbrel).
There are also some side effects associated with these treatments, they include:
- Lupus
- A higher risk of infection
- Skin reaction
- Congestive heart failure
- Lymphoma [6]