title: The use of long-acting drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Experience to date strongly indicates that long-acting drugs currently used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis are very potent antiinflammatory agents which act in most cases by completely unknown mechanisms. All of them have built in but recognizable toxicity which can usually be prevented by appropriate monitoring. Although most of them offer relatively short term (up to 3 years) benefits, with the probable exception of methotrexate, nonetheless they can offer for a period of time improved function and relief of pain for many individuals. Thus, even though they do not dramatically affect the long-range outcome of the disease, they continue to offer useful benefit for patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are not responding to conservative therapy. Some of the long-acting agents are only slightly more toxic than the widely nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs which do have a definite risk of serious upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Currently the use of combinations as well as the continued introduction of new drugs in this class, offer hope that greater benefit than we can currently provide is within reach over the next few years.
authors.affiliation: Piedmont Hospital, Arthritis Center, Atlanta, GA 30309.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: McDuffie
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents