What are the three best medications for rheumatoid arthritis?
There is generally no such thing as "the three best drugs for rheumatoid arthritis." Rheumatoid usually refers to rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis commonly involves medications such as methotrexate tablets, leflunomide tablets, sulfasalazine suppositories, hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets, and iguratimod tablets.
1. Methotrexate Tablets: They work by inhibiting dihydrofolate reductase, interfering with intracellular folate metabolism, thereby suppressing the proliferation and activation of immune cells, exerting anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.
2. Leflunomide Tablets: Leflunomide tablets inhibit the de novo synthesis pathway of pyrimidine, affecting cell proliferation and activation, exerting anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.
3. Sulfasalazine Suppositories: Sulfasalazine is broken down in the intestine into sulfapyridine and 5-aminosalicylic acid, exerting antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects.
4. Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate Tablets: They exert anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects through multiple pathways, including interfering with lysosomal function within cells, inhibiting activation of immune cells, and suppressing cytokine production.
5. Iguratimod Tablets: By inhibiting the activity of nuclear factor-κB and regulating cytokine expression, iguratimod exerts anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, and also has certain bone protective effects.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients should use medications rationally according to their specific conditions under the guidance of a qualified physician to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes and minimize the occurrence of adverse drug reactions.