RA Flashcards
DMARDs should be started within ……………… of diagnosis
3 months
If RA is suspected what treatment should begin
NSAIDs
+/- PPI and paracetamol
NSAID anti-inflammatory effect can take…………
and analgesic effect …………………..
3 weeks
1 week
Joint destruction is irreversible and only eased by…..
joint replacement
Choice of NSAID dependent on
efficacy tox other meds other disease age renal and liver func cost Rxer preference
Monitoring in RA
pain
range of movement
Methotrexate is given with
folic acid - to prevent side-effects
methotrexate is weekly!
Methotrexate effects ……….. cells
All rapidly dividing cells
Methotrexate counselling
Weekly
alcohol (hepatic cirrhosis)
contraception
Do DMARDs have analgesic effect?
No
What might you monitor in serum levels?
ESR - erythrocyte sedimentation rate
CRP
In a flare with normal DMARD therapy you might
add a second DMARD
methotrexate +/- sulfasalazine/ciclosporin