Rheumatoid Arthritis: Causes, Treatments, and Medication Options

When your body turns against itself, it can start attacking the lining of your joints—that’s rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes painful joint inflammation and can lead to long-term damage. Also known as RA, it doesn’t just affect mobility—it can wear you down over time if left unchecked. Unlike regular joint wear and tear, rheumatoid arthritis doesn’t come from aging or injury. It’s your immune system mistakenly seeing your own tissues as threats, then sending inflammatory cells to destroy them. This process often hits small joints first—fingers, wrists, toes—and can spread to knees, elbows, and even organs like the heart and lungs.

People with rheumatoid arthritis often describe morning stiffness that lasts over an hour, swelling that feels warm to the touch, and fatigue that doesn’t go away with rest. Over time, untreated RA can cause joint deformities and loss of function. That’s why early diagnosis matters. Doctors use blood tests for markers like rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies, along with imaging like X-rays or MRIs, to confirm it’s not osteoarthritis or another condition. Once diagnosed, treatment focuses on three goals: reducing inflammation, preventing joint damage, and keeping you moving.

DMARDs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs that slow or stop the immune system’s attack on joints. Also known as conventional synthetic DMARDs, they’re often the first line of defense. Methotrexate is the most common—it’s affordable, well-studied, and works for many. But if it’s not enough, doctors may turn to biologics, targeted drugs that block specific parts of the immune response like TNF-alpha or interleukins. Also known as biologic DMARDs, they’re powerful but more expensive and require injections or infusions. Then there are JAK inhibitors, a newer class of oral meds that interfere with signaling pathways driving inflammation. Also known as targeted synthetic DMARDs, they offer another option when others fail. These aren’t cures, but they can put RA into remission for some people.

Many people with RA also use corticosteroids, short-term anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisone or deflazacort that calm flare-ups fast. Also known as steroids, they’re effective but not meant for long use due to side effects like bone loss, weight gain, and higher infection risk. You’ll often see them paired with DMARDs—steroids to get you breathing again, DMARDs to rebuild your defenses. Pain relievers like NSAIDs help with symptoms but don’t change the disease course.

What you won’t find in most guides is how lifestyle and other conditions tie into RA. Weight, smoking, and stress all make inflammation worse. Some people with RA also deal with dry eyes, lung issues, or even depression. That’s why treatment isn’t just about pills—it’s about your whole life. You’ll need regular checkups, blood tests, and sometimes referrals to specialists. And while RA can’t be reversed, many people live full, active lives with the right plan.

Below, you’ll find real comparisons between medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions—like how Calcort stacks up against prednisone, or why certain steroids are chosen over others. You’ll also see how drugs meant for other issues, like blood pressure or diabetes meds, sometimes overlap in use or side effects. This isn’t just a list of articles—it’s a practical guide to navigating treatment choices, side effects, and what actually works when you’re managing this daily.