What Chemotherapy Drugs Are Used to Treat Rheumatic Diseases?
Although there are many chemotherapy drugs, only some are used to treat rheumatic diseases today. These include: • Rheumatrex. Rheumatrex — or methotrexate — is the chemotherapeutic drug most widely used by rheumatologists because it is effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis and certain other rheumatic diseases (such as certain forms of vasculitis, or inflammation of blood vessels), and it is relatively safe. Most patients can take Rheumatrex by mouth in a single, weekly dose. Some patients prefer to take it as an injection once a week. It’s common side effects are relatively easy to monitor, treat, and prevent. • Imuran. Imuran has been used for many years as an immunosuppressive drug to prevent organ rejection in patients receiving kidney transplants. Usually taken in a single daily dose by mouth, Imuran also is used to suppress the abnormal immune response in some patients with vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), and rheumatoid arthritis. • Cytoxan. Cytoxan is a
