Medications

		Medications
		General precautions are required when taking drugs / medications. Always try and remember the medications you are on when going to a doctor, as this information is VERY important. Many drugs can interact with each other. An up-todate list of the medications may be a useful item to give to the doctor. Side effects are always possible, and allergies may occur even months after starting a medication. Nuisance side effects such as nausea, dizziness or rash are common for all groups of drugs, but more serious side effects are usually idiosynchratic or dose related for other individual classes of medications. The package insert /information leaflet for a drug should be in the packet of supplied medication. If not - ask your pharmacist for it. The side effects quoted in these documents, cover all possible known reactions, and are often overstated, so do not panic if you see a frightening list of possible side effects. However - do ask your doc about your fears. Dont be scared to ask questions.
Common medications used in Rheumatology.
		Alendronate / fosamax Antimalarials in Arthritis Arava / leflunomide Arthrotec Calcium and osteoporosis Calcitonin Celebrex / celecoxib Chloroquine in Arthritis Combination DMARD therapy in RA Cortisone Cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors / COX -2 science Cyclosporine in RA Cytotec / Misoprostol Cytotoxic therapy in Rheumatic Disease Daypro / Oxaprozin Diet and Arthritis Disease modifying therapy in Rheumatoid arthritis Drugs in Pregnancy Enbrel Fad / Unusual therapy for RA Fosamax Immune Suppression in the Rheumatic Diseases Leflunomide Methotrexate Methotrexate in RA Miacalcic / calcitonin Minocycline in RA Neoral in Ra Nivaquine in Arthritis Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDs Plaquenil Prednisone Rofecoxib /Vioxx Sulphasalazine Tetracyclines in RA Vioxx / Rofecoxib