As rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive inflammatory disease of joints, this condition continues to worsen unless the inflammation is slowed or stopped. The treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is a combination of medications and non-drug approaches. The non-drug approaches include hydrotherapy, physical therapy, relaxation therapy, occupational therapy, heat and cold treatments. Drug approaches involve a large variety of medications that are used single or in combination.

The main purpose of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is to manage the symptoms of the disease, to reduce the stiffness and pain and to prevent the joint damage. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are found to be very effective for the treatment as it can stop or slow the destruction and disability of the joints. This group of drugs includes a large variety of agents working in various ways.

Methotrexate (Folex PFS, Rheumatrex) helps to relieve the symptoms of inflammation including stiffness, pain and swelling. Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) is another drug that reduces the inflammatory responses. Leflunomide (Arava) can decrease the inflammation by acting on the cells of immune system. It is helpful to reduce the symptoms and prevent the progression of this disease.

The gold salts like auranofin and aurothiomalate contain the traces of metal gold. The gold infiltrates into the cells of immune system and affects their activity.  D-penicillamine is another agent that removes the metals in cells and bloodstream by combining with them. It results in suppressions of specific actions of immune system which promote the development of the disease.

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is one of effective drugs used in the treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. It inhibits particular cells that are essential for the immune response leading to rheumatoid arthritis. Azathioprine (Imuran) is another effective drug that blocks the production of cells responsible for the immune response related to rheumatoid arthritis. It is usually applied in severe cases when other DMARDs are not effective. Cyclosporine (Neoral) is another beneficial drug that blocks important immune cell and prevents the immune response in many other ways.

People who take these medicines should regularly undergo blood and urine tests to detect any adverse effect on liver and kidneys.

There are some other medications that control the symptoms such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen, ibuprofen and celecoxib, COX-2 inhibitors, corticosteroids, analgesics and biological response modifiers such as rituximab, anakinra, abatacept, adalimumab and infliximab.