Treatments for Polymyalgia rheumatica
Treatments for Polymyalgia rheumatica
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources
for Polymyalgia rheumatica
includes the following list.
Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Polymyalgia rheumatica: Is the Diagnosis Correct?
The first step in getting correct treatment is
to get a correct diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis list for Polymyalgia rheumatica may include:
Polymyalgia rheumatica: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers
Products, offers and promotion categories available for Polymyalgia rheumatica:
Polymyalgia rheumatica: Research Doctors & Specialists
- Nerve Specialists:
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- Arthritis & Joint Health Specialists (Rheumatology):
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Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.
Unlabeled Drugs and Medications to treat Polymyalgia rheumatica:
Unlabelled alternative drug treatments for Polymyalgia rheumatica include:
- Methylprednisolone
- A-Methapred
- Depmedalone-40
- Depmedalone-80
- Depo-Medrol
- Enpak Refill
- Mar-Pred 40
- Medrol
- Medrol Acne Lotion
- Medrol Enpak
- Medrol Veriderm Cream
- Meprolone
- Neo-Medrol Acne Lotion
- Neo-Medrol Veriderm
- Rep-Pred 80
- Solu-Medrol
Discussion of treatments for Polymyalgia rheumatica:
Polymyalgia rheumatica usually disappears without
treatment in 1 to several years. With treatment, however, symptoms
disappear quickly, usually in 24 to 48 hours. If there is no
improvement, the doctor is likely to consider other possible
diagnoses.
The treatment of choice is corticosteroid medication,
usually prednisone. Polymyalgia rheumatica responds to a low daily dose
of prednisone. The dose is increased as needed until symptoms disappear.
Once symptoms disappear, the doctor may gradually reduce the dosage to
determine the lowest amount needed to alleviate symptoms. The amount of
time that treatment is needed is different for each patient. Most
patients can discontinue medication after 6 months to 2 years. If
symptoms recur, prednisone treatment is required again.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as
aspirin and ibuprofen also may be used to treat polymyalgia rheumatica.
The medication must be taken daily, and long-term use may cause stomach
irritation. For most patients, NSAIDs alone are not enough to relieve
symptoms. (Source: excerpt from Questions and Answers About Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis: NIAMS)
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Book Excerpts: Treatment of Polymyalgia rheumatica
Treatments of Polymyalgia rheumatica: Online Medical Books
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for more information about the treatments of Polymyalgia rheumatica.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Successful management of JRA usually involves administration of anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, carefully planned nutrition and exercise, and regular eye examinations. Both child and parents must be involved in therapy.
Aspirin is the initial drug of choice, with dosage based on the child’s weight. However, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also be used. If these prove ineffective, gold salts, hydroxychloroquine, and penicillamine may be tried. Because of adverse effects, steroids are generally reserved for treatment of systemic complications, such as pericarditis or iritis, that are resistant to NSAIDs. Corticosteroids and mydriatic drugs are commonly used for iridocyclitis. Low-dose cytotoxic drug therapy is currently being investigated. (See Drug therapy for arthritis, pages 367 and 368.)
Physical therapy promotes regular exercise to maintain joint mobility and muscle strength, thereby preventing contractures, deformity, and disability. Good posture, gait training, and joint protection are also beneficial. Splints help reduce pain, prevent contractures, and maintain correct joint alignment.
Surgery is usually limited to soft-tissue releases to improve joint mobility. Joint replacement is delayed until the child has matured physically and can handle vigorous rehabilitation. (See When arthritis requires surgery, page 369.)
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Rheumatoid arthritis:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Salicylates, particularly aspirin, are the mainstay of RA therapy because they decrease inflammation and relieve joint pain. Other useful medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as indomethacin, fenoprofen, and ibuprofen), antimalarials (hydroxychloroquine), gold salts, penicillamine, and corticosteroids (prednisone). Immunosuppressants, such as cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and azathioprine, are also therapeutic and are being used more commonly in early disease. (See Drug therapy for arthritis.)
Supportive measures include 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night, frequent rest periods between daily activities, and splinting to rest inflamed joints. A physical therapy program including range-of-motion exercises and carefully individualized therapeutic exercises forestalls joint function loss; application of heat relaxes muscles and relieves pain. Moist heat usually works best for patients with chronic disease. Ice packs are effective during acute episodes.
Advanced disease may require synovectomy, joint reconstruction, or total joint arthroplasty.
Useful surgical procedures in RA include metatarsal head and distal ulnar resectional arthroplasty, insertion of a Silastic prosthesis between the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints, and arthrodesis (joint fusion). Arthrodesis sacrifices joint mobility for stability and pain relief. Synovectomy (removal of destructive, proliferating synovium, usually in the wrists, knees, and fingers) may halt or delay the course of this disease. Osteotomy (the cutting of bone or excision of a wedge of bone) can realign joint surfaces and redistribute stresses. Tendons may rupture spontaneously, requiring surgical repair. Tendon transfers may prevent deformities or relieve contractures. (See When arthritis requires surgery.)
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Successful management of JRA usually involves administration of an anti-inflammatory, physical therapy, carefully planned nutrition and exercise, and regular eye examinations. The child and his parents must be involved in therapy.
A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) — such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen — is used to reduce pain and swelling. If this proves ineffective, a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), such as methotrexate, is a useful second-line agent. In addition, gold salts, hydroxychloroquine, auranofin, aurothioglucose, etanercept, or sulfasalazine may be considered. Responses to individual drugs may differ among the various subtypes of JRA. Because of adverse effects, systemic steroids are generally reserved for treatment of systemic complications that are resistant to NSAIDs and DMARDS, such as pericarditis and iritis. However, an intra-articular steroid can be effective in managing pauciarticular and polyarticular JRA.
CLINICAL TIP: Joint rest (by splinting) used for up to 3 days after joint injections with a corticosteroid may improve anti-inflamma-tory response.
Corticosteroids and mydriatics are commonly used for iridocyclitis. Low-dose cytotoxic drug therapy is currently being investigated.
Physical therapy promotes regular exercise to maintain joint mobility and muscle strength, thereby preventing contractures, deformity, and disability. Good posture, gait training, and joint protection are also beneficial. Splints help reduce pain, prevent contractures, and maintain correct joint alignment.
Generally, the prognosis for JRA is good, although disabilities can occur. Surgery is usually limited to soft-tissue releases to improve joint mobility. Joint replacement is delayed until the child has matured physically and can handle vigorous rehabilitation.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Rheumatoid arthritis:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Salicylates, particularly aspirin, are the mainstay of RA therapy, because they decrease inflammation and relieve joint pain. Other useful medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (such as indomethacin, fenoprofen, and ibuprofen), antimalarials (hydroxychloroquine), sulfasalazine, gold salts, and corticosteroids (prednisone). (See Drug therapy for arthritis.)
Immunosuppressants — such as methotrexate, cyclosporine, and azathioprine — are also therapeutic. They’re being used more commonly early in the disease process. Cox-2 inhibitors, such as rofecoxib and celecoxib, significantly reduce the risk of GI bleeding. Cyclophosphamide, which suppresses the immune system and is associated with toxic adverse effects, may be used in patients who have been unsuccessful with other therapies.
UNDER STUDY: A number of new drugs are becoming popular for RA therapy:
❑ Etanercept, an injectable, and infliximab, given I.V. every 2 months, inhibit the inflammatory protein tumor necrosis factor.
❑ Leflunomide blocks the growth of new cells.
❑ Anakinra, an injectable, blocks another inflammatory protein, interleukin-1.
Supportive measures include 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night, frequent rest periods between daily activities, and splinting to rest inflamed joints. A physical therapy program, including range-of-motion exercises and carefully individualized therapeutic exercises, forestalls loss of joint function.
Application of heat relaxes muscles and relieves pain. Moist heat usually works best for patients with chronic disease. Ice packs are effective during acute episodes.
Treatment in advanced disease
Advanced disease may require synovectomy, joint reconstruction, or total joint arthroplasty. (See When arthritis requires surgery, page 743.)
Useful surgical procedures in RA include metatarsal head and distal ulnar resectional arthroplasty, insertion of a Silastic prosthesis between MCP and PIP joints, and arthrodesis (joint fusion). Arthrodesis sacrifices joint mobility for stability and relief of pain.
Synovectomy (removal of destructive, proliferating synovium, usually in the wrists, knees, and fingers) may halt or delay the course of the disease. Osteotomy (the cutting of bone or excision of a wedge of bone) can realign joint surfaces and redistribute stresses.
Tendons may rupture spontaneously, requiring surgical repair. Tendon transfers may prevent deformities or relieve contractures. Apheresis may slow down RA or stop it from wor-sening.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
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