8 Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication Side Effects
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that mainly affects the joints. It can cause painful swelling of the joints, morning stiffness, and extreme fatigue. This can be painful and debilitating, especially if it’s left untreated. People who have arthritis are often prescribed Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication, which works to reduce the discomfort and swelling in the joints. However, even these medications come with side effects such as – swelling of the feet, stomach pain, and rashes.
Did you know that more than a dozen medications are used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis? Unfortunately, some of these drugs can have some pretty serious side effects. But there are also other medications that are more straightforward, and it is up to your doctor to determine which one will work best for you. The pain from this arthritis can be managed using creams and oils as well rather than taking medication. For instance, THC oil could be absorbed via the skin (learn more at https://lowpricebud.co/can-you-absorb-thc-oil-through-skin/) and there are pain relief creams that can help you manage severe flare-ups of arthritis pain. So there are non-medicative solutions out there if the traditional medication doesn’t suit you.
That shouldn’t stop you from doing research about other forms of medications and/or methods that could positively impact pain management. This is especially significant since arthritis can be a long-term condition for many people. In that light, alternative alleviation methods in the form of microdose CBD supplements may be worth exploring. But make sure that you consult with your doctor first — get a second opinion if needed — before finalizing on the treatment plan.
NSAIDs and Stomach Problems
Stomach problems can be painful. Even if you aren’t suffering from heartburn, stomachaches, or diarrhea, stomach problems here in America are one of the most common reasons people seek medical treatment. The issue is that there are so many kinds of stomach problems that it can be hard to figure out exactly what is going on.
NSAIDs and Bleeding
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are a group of drugs used to reduce pain and inflammation. They are commonly prescribed to treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and back pain. When used as directed, NSAIDs are generally safe. However, when flippantly used, they cause serious bleeding problems, especially in older adults.
Steroids and Toxicity
A serious problem that affects millions of athletes and weekend warriors is steroid abuse. Anabolic steroid drugs can cause long-term health complications and put athletes at risk for death if used in excess. It is therefore prudent to learn about the drug’s risks and what one can do to prevent steroid abuse.
Steroids and toxicity – these two words are often used in tandem during a conversation. Both terms are used to describe the same thing: steroids being used improperly or in excess. However, the reality of it is a bit more nuanced. Steroids, or more specifically, anabolic-androgenic steroids, are chemicals that are naturally occurring in our bodies. They mainly serve the purpose of building muscle mass. Doctors often prescribe them for certain types of medical conditions (such as muscle wasting), but they are also often used illegally to build muscle mass. Excess use can prove toxic to the human body, which is why steroids and toxicity often get conflated to mean the same maligned thing.
Methotrexate Fatigue and Liver Damage
MTX (Methotrexate), a chemotherapy drug intended to kill rapidly dividing cells, is commonly used to treat a number of cancers. Side effects of the drug include hair loss, nausea, and vomiting. However, the one that is least discussed is fatigue, which can be one of MTX’s most debilitating side effects. MTX fatigue is persistent and occurs in the majority of cancer patients who receive this chemotherapy. Symptoms include, but are not limited to – tiredness, weakness, depression, headaches, sleep disturbances, poor appetite, difficulty concentrating, as well as muscle and joint pain. Since it is also used as preventative medicine for certain cancers, depending on the amount taken, it can mildly or severely cause damage to the liver, which is why proper care should always be taken while deciding on the quantity that is administered to a patient.
Triple Therapy and Eye Damage
Eye damage is a problem that happens a lot with triple therapy, yet many people don’t even know it exists, let alone how to prevent it. Many people mistakenly believe cataract surgery is the only medical intervention that risks permanent eye damage. However, this is not true. In fact, triple therapy, which involves combining three medications into one, is the single biggest cause of eye damage among patients prescribed eye medications.
Biologic Drugs and Other Issues
Biologics are a specialty drug group that works differently from standard drugs or antibiotics. Also known as biologic response modifiers (BRM), they are drugs that directly affect the immune system to treat conditions like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and Crohn’s disease. While biologics can be highly effective in managing these conditions, they are not without potential side effects. Some of these side effects can be severe and even life-threatening, as evidenced by the recent recall of the medication Staxyn.
If you are currently taking biologics, it is crucial to be mindful of the potential side effects associated with these drugs. Should you experience any serious or unusual side effects after using these medicines, it is advisable to seek prompt advice from your doctor. In cases where you think medical negligence may be a factor in the adverse effects experienced, it becomes essential to take appropriate legal action with the help of Gadsby Wicks Senior Team of lawyers (or from other reputable legal experts), so that you can hold the responsible party accountable.
Conclusion
So, we’ve looked at how certain specific medicines used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis can have certain side effects. But we’ve also told you that there are plenty of other methods of treating and managing all kinds of pain out there, including physiotherapy, rso weed, wellness spa routines, and so on. Always remember to consult your doctor on how you can best treat this condition, and get approval if you wish to try something new.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a painful and chronic condition, but it doesn’t have to put a stop to your daily life. Medicine is still the answer, and you just have to find the one that works for you.