There are various treatment options available for inflammatory disease of joints, rheumatoid arthritis which causes pain, inflammations, stiffness and swelling of the joints and restriction in the mobility of joints if becomes severe. The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is aimed to reduce stiffness and pain in the damaged joint, to prevent damage of the joints as far as possible, to minimize the disability or deformity resulted from joint damage and pain and to decrease the risk of developing some related conditions like heart disease. The treatment is a combination of medications and non-drug approaches. Drug based approaches involve a large variety of rheumatoid arthritis medications that are used individually or in a combination.

Rheumatoid arthritis medications include drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics and steroids recommended to ease the stiffness and pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) drugs help to reduce stiffness and pain as well as to manage the inflammation. There are many brands and types of these drugs which are slightly different from each other. They are used a gateway to successful DMARD therapy. Commonly used NSAIDs are naproxen, diclofenac, ibuprofen, piroxicam and ketoprofen. COX-2 inhibitors including celecoxib (Celebrex) are the newer generation of NSAIDs. Though there are some side-effects of NSAIDs such as abdominal pain, bleeding and skin reactions, they are quite effective for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

The analgesics like paracetamols/acetaminophens, codeine, tramadol, opioids and other medications can be used to manage the pain of joints which helps to ease the movements of joins. The narcotic painkillers including fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine and codeine are used to manage severe pain that can not be reduced with other medications. They act on the pain receptors of nerve cells and help to control severe pains.

Corticosteroids are considered among effective rheumatoid arthritis medications. It can be obtained in pill form namely Prednisone or injected into the affected joint. These drugs are used to reduce extreme inflammation which is accompanied by stiffness and severe pain. It can be also used for treatment of systemic rheumatoid arthritis that affects the lining of blood vessels and lungs.

There are other medications such as disease-modifying drugs such as penicillamine, methotrexate, sulfasalazine, gold injections, hydroxychloroquine, gold tablets and leflunomide, newer disease modifying drugs including infliximab, anakinra, adalimumab and etanercept.