Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is a category of drugs used in many autoimmune disorders to slow down disease progression. Their use was first propagated in rheumatoid arthritis (hence their name) but has come to include many other diseases, such as Crohn's disease, lupus erythematosus (SLE), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), myasthenia gravis and various others.

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Some of these drugs are also used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis which may not, strictly speaking, be an autoimmune disorder. (See List of Autoimmune Diseases.)

Some DMARDs are mild chemotherapeutics but use a side-effect of chemotherapy - immunosuppression - as its main therapeutical benefit.

Members

adalimumab
azathioprine
chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine (antimalarials)
cyclosporine (Cyclosporin A)
D-penicillamine
etanercept
gold salts (sodium aurothiomalate, auranofin)
infliximab
leflunomide
methotrexate (MTX)
minocycline (a tetracycline antibiotic)
sulfasalazine (SSZ)

Alternatives

When treatment with DMARDs fails, cyclophosphamide or steroid pulse therapy is often used to stabilise uncontrolled autoimmune disease. Some severe autoimmune diseases are being treated with bone marrow transplants in clinical trials, usually after cyclophosphamide therapy has failed.

v • d • e Major Drug Groups
Gastrointestinal tract (A)	Antacids • Antiemetics • H₂-receptor antagonists • Proton pump inhibitors • Laxatives • Antidiarrhoeals
Blood and blood forming organs (B)	Anticoagulants • Antiplatelets • Thrombolytics
Cardiovascular system (C)	Antiarrhythmics • Antihypertensives • Diuretics • Vasodilators • Antianginals • Beta blockers • Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors • Antihyperlipidemics
Skin (D)	Emollients - Antipruritics
Reproductive system (G)	Hormonal contraception • Fertility agents • Selective estrogen receptor modulators • Sex hormones
Endocrine system (H)	Anti-diabetics • Corticosteroids • Sex hormones • Thyroid hormones
Infections and Infestations (J, P)	Antibiotics • Antivirals • Vaccines • Antifungals • Antiprotozoals • Anthelmintics
Malignant and Immune disease (L)	Anticancer agents • Immunostimulators • Immunosuppressants
Muscles, Bones, and Joints (M)	Anabolic steroids • Anti-inflammatories • Antirheumatics • Corticosteroids • Muscle relaxants
Brain and Nervous system (N)	Anesthetics • Analgesics • Anticonvulsants • Mood stabilizers • Anxiolytics • Antipsychotics • Antidepressants • Nervous system stimulants • Sedatives
Respiratory system (R)	Bronchodilators • Decongestants • Antihistamines

v • d • e

Anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic products (M01)

Anti-inflammatory and
antirheumatic products, non-steroids

Butylpyrazolidines (Phenylbutazone, Mofebutazone, Oxyphenbutazone, Clofezone, Kebuzone)

Acetic acid derivatives and related substances (Indometacin, Sulindac, Tolmetin, Zomepirac, Diclofenac, Alclofenac, Bumadizone, Etodolac, Lonazolac, Fentiazac, Acemetacin, Difenpiramide, Oxametacin, Proglumetacin, Ketorolac, Aceclofenac, Bufexamac)

Oxicams (Piroxicam, Tenoxicam, Droxicam, Lornoxicam, Meloxicam)

Propionic acid derivatives (Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Ketoprofen, Fenoprofen, Fenbufen, Benoxaprofen, Suprofen, Pirprofen, Flurbiprofen, Indoprofen, Tiaprofenic acid, Oxaprozin, Ibuproxam, Dexibuprofen, Flunoxaprofen, Alminoprofen, Dexketoprofen)

Fenamates (Mefenamic acid, Tolfenamic acid, Flufenamic acid, Meclofenamic acid)

Coxibs (Celecoxib, Rofecoxib, Valdecoxib, Parecoxib, Etoricoxib, Lumiracoxib)

other anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic agents, non-steroids (Nabumetone, Niflumic acid, Azapropazone, Glucosamine, Benzydamine, Glucosaminoglycan polysulfate, Proquazone, Orgotein, Nimesulide, Feprazone, Diacerein, Morniflumate, Tenidap, Oxaceprol, Chondroitin sulfate)

Specific antirheumatic agents

Quinolines (Oxycinchophen) - Gold preparations (Sodium aurothiomalate, Sodium aurothiosulfate, Auranofin, Aurothioglucose, Aurotioprol) - Penicillamine/Bucillamine

Categories: Immunosuppressive agents | Immunology | Autoimmune diseases

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Disease-modifying_antirheumatic_drug". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.