David Zelman

Apr 16, 2024 | webmd.com | David Zelman |Stephanie Watson

Biologic drugs can be joint savers for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). But even these powerful medications don't always guarantee relief from pain and stiffness. Sometimes the first biologic you try doesn't work for you. Or a drug might control your RA for a while, only to stop working. It's hard to predict whether one of these drugs will be a hit or a miss.

Apr 16, 2024 | webmd.com | David Zelman |Stephanie Watson

Biologics treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by targeting parts of your immune system that fuel inflammation. These drugs work very well to slow RA and relieve pain, swelling, and other symptoms. So why quit a good thing? There are a few reasons why you might need to stop taking a biologic. For one thing, the drug you're on might not help your symptoms. Side effects are another reason to stop these drugs.

Apr 16, 2024 | webmd.com | David Zelman |Jon McKenna

Most people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) start their treatment with conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, or DMARDs. But if these drugs don't work well enough to reduce inflammation and pain in your joints, your doctor may recommend biologic DMARDs.Biologic drugs are proteins that are genetically engineered in a lab to target parts of your immune system that cause inflammation. You get them by shot or IV.

Apr 16, 2024 | webmd.com | David Zelman |Kara Mayer Robinson

When you start taking a biologic drug for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), time matters. First, it’s important to start treatment as soon as you can to lower your risk of joint damage and deformity. Second, you need to give your biologic enough time to work. You may not see results right away. But that doesn’t mean it’s not working. Biologics, which are a type of disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), interfere with the underlying disease process of RA.

Apr 1, 2024 | webmd.com | David Zelman |R. Morgan Griffin

At age 62, April Dawson lives every day with chronic pain from wrist arthritis. "There are a lot of everyday things I just can't do now," she says. "I can't open packages or jars or even lift a half-gallon of milk. Some days I can barely turn the ignition in my car."But despite the pain and inconvenience, she takes no medication to relieve her suffering. Her doctor tried her on some prescription anti-inflammatory drugs, "But I was always wary of using medicines," she says.