Categories of drugs prescribed in rheumatic disease

Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (DMARD)

1. methotrexate (Rheumatrex)
2. cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
3. azathioprine, (Imuran)
4. cyclosporine (Neoral)

Biologic Response Modifier (BRM)

1. etanercept (Enbrel)
2. inflixamab (Remicade)

Corticosteroid

1. prednisolone (Prelone)
2. prednisone (Deltasone)
3. dexamethasone (Decadron)
4. hydrocortisone (Cortef)
5. cortisone (Cortone)
6. methylprednisolone (Medrol)

NSAID

1. naproxen (Naprosyn)
2. piroxicam (Feldene)
3. diflunisol (Dolobid)
4. ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, others)
5. indomethacin (Indocin)

Gout agent

1. allopurinol (Lopurin) [taken daily as preventive agent]
2. colchicine  [taken PRN to handle intermittent flares]

DMARDs in the above list that are also used for cancer chemotherapy:

• methotrexate (Rheumatrex)
• cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
• cyclosporine (Neoral) – DMARD

(BRMs that are not in this list, but that are used for chemotherapy: Interleukin, Interferon)