Here is some arthritis news for late 2012. Seeing this is the end of this year, we'll probably have the next update in 2013.
Earlier this month, the FDA approve the drug Xeljanz (where do they get these names?) mainly to treat those patients who do not respond to, or who can't take methotrexate, which is from the family of DMARD medication.
Xeljanz or tofacitinib. which is available on prescription, target patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. Ir works by blocking molecules called Janus Kinases which cause inflammation of the joints.
Apparently there have been a few clinical trial that have established the safety of Xeljanz. Still, with these new drugs, there is no history to draw on. I think I'd rather wait until it has been in use for some time and the long term effects come out of the woodwork!
I guess it can't be too much worse than methotrexate (one of the side effects of which is death!), but if you need to obtain it, write it down on a peice of paper so you don't actually have to pronounce it!
It seems they'll never learn that drugs are only masking symptoms while doing nothing for the underlying cause.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was on methotrexate for arthritis and the side effects were making him ill. He is so much better now without it. Unfortunately it is big business so money comes before people!!
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