What are DMARDs?
A. The term DMARD comes from the first letters of the words, Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug. This is a common term used for specialized medications that are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. In past years medications which came under the heading of DMARDS included gold given by injection or by mouth, Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) which is an anti-malarial medication, penicillamine (which is not used with any great frequency now), Imuran (azathioprine), and Azulfidine (sulfasalazine). In the 1980s methotrexate became the most popular DMARD for rheumatoid arthritis and has continued to occupy this place. In the last couple of years, however, we now have additional choices as DMARDS, including Arava (leflunomide) and also the incorporation of biologic agents. Enbrel (etanercept) was the first of these approved and now Remicade (infliximab), an intravenous therapy, has been approved as an additional DMARD. Thus, the patient and rheumatologist now have a multitude of choices, many
