Restarting treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease that causes painful inflammation in the joints. While there is no cure for RA, there are numerous treatments that can help control the disease and prevent complications. These include medications such as corticosteroids and DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs).

While RA requires ongoing treatment, it's not uncommon for people to pause or stop taking medications for periods of time. For example, many people paused treatment with corticosteroids and DMARDs early during the COVID-19 pandemic due to concerns about increased risk of infections. Other people may discontinue treatment due to loss of income or loss of health insurance. Some stop treatment under the guidance of a healthcare provider, others on their own.

If you are living with RA and have stopped taking a medication, the following information may be helpful in getting back to treatment and getting RA under control.

If you stopped an RA medication on your own

Ideally, any changes to a medication or medication dosage will be made under the guidance and supervision of a healthcare provider. As we all know, circumstances are not always ideal.

If you’ve stopped taking a medication on your own, it is very important to see your healthcare provider as soon as possible to discuss RA and what you need to be doing to keep RA controlled. RA comes with a risk of permanent joint damage and deformity, and it can lead to disability.

Some important topics to discuss:

• The reason or reasons you stopped medication
• When you stopped. If you don’t know the exact date, give your best approximation.
• Any changes in symptoms you’ve noticed since stopping the medication
• Options for resuming treatment. Your provider may recommend going back to the medication you were taking or switching to a different medication. Discuss the potential side effects of the new treatment.
• Your risk of infection or any other concerns about your health and wellness, including stress, anxiety, and mental health
• If you have had a COVID-19 infection and are vaccinated against COVID-19
• Any changes to eating habits, exercise, or lifestyle

If you stopped under the guidance of your HCP

The best-case scenario for discontinuing or changing a medication is doing so under the guidance of your healthcare provider. If this is the case, you should be continuing with your current treatment plan and keeping appointments with your provider to monitor your symptoms and how treatment is going. You should also be discussing:

• Your current treatment and treatments you have used in the past
• What to do if you experience a flare of RA symptoms
• Any changes to your lifestyle, such as exercise, eating, or unhealthy habits
• If you have had a COVID-19 infection and are vaccinated against COVID-19
• Any other concerns about your health and wellness, including stress, anxiety, and mental health.
• Options for resuming treatment. Your provider may recommend going back to the medication you were taking or switching to a different medication. Discuss the potential side effects of the new treatment.
• Any concerns you have about treatment
• Other steps you can take to manage RA

Remember, RA is a different experience for everyone. Your healthcare provider is your best source of information.