Biosimilars for the Treatment of RA
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common types of inflammatory arthritis. The cause of RA isn’t known, although experts believe it’s an autoimmune disease that occurs when your immune system begins to attack the joints. If you’re diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, your physician will likely refer you to a rheumatologist.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common types of inflammatory arthritis. The cause of RA isn’t known, although experts believe it’s an autoimmune disease that occurs when your immune system begins to attack the joints. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include joint pain, swelling and stiffness. At first, rheumatoid arthritis usually only attacks a few joints, but over time it affects more. Many people experience worse RA pain in the morning or after they’ve been sitting or lying down for awhile. It can also cause fatigue. If you’re diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, your physician will likely refer you to a rheumatologist.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
Early treatment is important as it can make the disease more likely to go into remission. Unlike some other types of arthritis, the chronic swelling from RA can cause permanent damage to the joints. RA is also linked to heart disease. Rheumatoid arthritis treatments include disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), analgesics (painkillers) and biologics (medications produced from living organisms or components of living organisms).
Biologic drugs are more complex to produce than conventional medicines because they are usually made from living materials such as human, animal and bacteria cells. Biosimilars are a cheaper alternative to biologics that more patients are choosing today. These drugs are very similar to a biologic drug - they are not exactly the same, but they work in the same way. To be approved, the biosimilar drug must be highly similar to an approved biologic product, and be as safe and effective. If you’re already taking a biologic drug, the biosimilar might not work as well, or could cause side effects. Your physician or rheumatologist can help you decide if biosimilars are right for you.
If you aren’t responding to first-line rheumatoid arthritis therapies, then your rheumatologist may be looking at offering you a second-line therapy. Second-line therapies are a major advance to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and may be pills, injections under the skin or intravenous infusions.
Talk to your rheumatologist if you'd like more information on biosimilars.
Visit HealthChoicesFirst.com for more videos and resources on arthritis.
Print this Action Plan and check off items that you want to discuss with your healthcare provider
-
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include joint pain, swelling and stiffness.
-
At first, rheumatoid arthritis usually only attacks a few joints, but over time it affects more.
-
Early treatment is important as it can make the disease more likely to go into remission.
-
Unlike some other types of arthritis, the chronic swelling from RA can cause permanent damage to the joints.
-
Rheumatoid arthritis treatments include disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), analgesics (painkillers) and biologics (medications produced from living organisms or components of living organisms).
Endocrine Conditions
Conditions
Allied Support
Biosimilars for the Treatment of RA
Knowledge is Power.
True/False - Quiz: Do You Understand Biosimilars for the Treatment of RA?
Information - Biosimilars for the Treatment of RA
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common types of inflammatory arthritis. The cause of RA isn’t known, although experts believe it’s an autoimmune disease that occurs when your immune system begins to attack the joints. If you’re diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, your physician will likely refer you to a rheumatologist.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common types of inflammatory arthritis. The cause of RA isn’t known, although experts believe it’s an autoimmune disease that occurs when your immune system begins to attack the joints. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include joint pain, swelling and stiffness. At first, rheumatoid arthritis usually only attacks a few joints, but over time it affects more. Many people experience worse RA pain in the morning or after they’ve been sitting or lying down for awhile. It can also cause fatigue. If you’re diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, your physician will likely refer you to a rheumatologist.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
Early treatment is important as it can make the disease more likely to go into remission. Unlike some other types of arthritis, the chronic swelling from RA can cause permanent damage to the joints. RA is also linked to heart disease. Rheumatoid arthritis treatments include disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), analgesics (painkillers) and biologics (medications produced from living organisms or components of living organisms).
Biologic drugs are more complex to produce than conventional medicines because they are usually made from living materials such as human, animal and bacteria cells. Biosimilars are a cheaper alternative to biologics that more patients are choosing today. These drugs are very similar to a biologic drug - they are not exactly the same, but they work in the same way. To be approved, the biosimilar drug must be highly similar to an approved biologic product, and be as safe and effective. If you’re already taking a biologic drug, the biosimilar might not work as well, or could cause side effects. Your physician or rheumatologist can help you decide if biosimilars are right for you.
If you aren’t responding to first-line rheumatoid arthritis therapies, then your rheumatologist may be looking at offering you a second-line therapy. Second-line therapies are a major advance to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and may be pills, injections under the skin or intravenous infusions.
Talk to your rheumatologist if you'd like more information on biosimilars.
Visit HealthChoicesFirst.com for more videos and resources on arthritis.
Print this Action Plan and check off items that you want to discuss with your healthcare provider
-
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include joint pain, swelling and stiffness.
-
At first, rheumatoid arthritis usually only attacks a few joints, but over time it affects more.
-
Early treatment is important as it can make the disease more likely to go into remission.
-
Unlike some other types of arthritis, the chronic swelling from RA can cause permanent damage to the joints.
-
Rheumatoid arthritis treatments include disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), analgesics (painkillers) and biologics (medications produced from living organisms or components of living organisms).
