What are the alternatives to methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis?
If you're looking for other treatment options besides methotrexate, there are several other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that can help manage RA. Your doctor might consider switching you to or combining methotrexate with other medications Show Full Answer
What are the alternatives to methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis?
If you're looking for other treatment options besides methotrexate, there are several other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that can help manage RA. Your doctor might consider switching you to or combining methotrexate with other medications depending on your specific situation.
Other conventional DMARDs include:
* Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)
* Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
* Leflunomide (Arava)
* Azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran)
* Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
For symptom relief, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) can help with pain and inflammation, though they don't slow disease progression like DMARDs do.
It's important to talk with your doctor before making any changes to your treatment plan. They can help you find the right medication based on your disease activity, side effects you're experiencing, and overall health. If methotrexate isn't working well for you or the side effects are too bothersome, your doctor can work with you to find a better option.
December 28, 2025
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