It’s important to note that some RA medications can take several months to be effective.
Fortunately, severaltreatment optionsare available if a medication isn’t working effectively as it should.
This can especially happen with biologics, an RA drug class.
Charday Penn / Getty Images
Your healthcare provider should also monitor you for signs indicating it’s time to change treatment strategies.
Consult your healthcare provider to learn more about what activities to avoid.
Your healthcare provider will want to hear directly from you as they assess your medical history.
Be honest about your pain levels and treatment plan preferences, and ask questions about the process.
They may suggest changing your dosage, adding another medication to your routine, or switching medications altogether.
Is It Common to Change Treatments?
Occasional changes to an RA treatment plan are normal.
Treatment is not one size fits all, and medications can affect people differently.
Most disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics take three to six months to be fully effective.
Always consult your healthcare provider before making any treatment adjustments.
Theres no way to predict how someone will respond to an RA treatment.
Sometimes your body may no longer react to certain medications as it once did.
This can especially happen with biologics.
Figuring out which medications are best for your situation often requires trial and error.
Expect to work closely with your healthcare provider during this adjustment period.
RA is a progressive disease that can lead to permanent joint damage.
It’s important to take your medication as prescribed to prevent flares.
Always check with a healthcare provider before changing or adding to your current routine.
2014;66(4): 775782. doi:10.1002/art.38323
Arthritis Foundation.Why don’t drugs work for some RA patients?
Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms.
Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis: Causes, symptoms, treatments, and more.
Arthritis Foundation.Understanding rheumatoid arthritis flares.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rheumatoid arthritis.
Best exercises for Rheumatoid Arthritis.
6 self-care tips for RA.
Kyburz D, Finckh A.The importance of early treatment for the prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis.Swiss Med Wkly.
2013;143:w13865.
2021;73(7):1108-1123. doi:10.1002/art.41752
Pisetsky DS.Advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Costs and challenges.North NCMJ.
2017;78(5).
Curtis JR, Singh JA.The use of biologics in rheumatoid arthritis: Current and emerging paradigms of care.Clin Ther.
2011;33(6):679707. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2011.05.044
Crofford LJ.Use of NSAIDs in treating patients with arthritis.Arthritis Res Ther.
2013;15(Suppl 3):S2.
2012;6:320-330. doi:10.2174/1874312901206010320
Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Rheumatoid arthritis treatment.
Cooney JK, Law RJ, Matschke V, et al.Benefits of exercise in rheumatoid arthritis.J Aging Res.
2011;2011:681640. doi:10.4061/2011/681640
Skoczynska M, Swierkot J.The role of diet in rheumatoid arthritis.Reumatologia.
Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis self-care.
2021;100(11):1078-1086. doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000001711
American College of Rheumatology.Joint replacement surgery.
