Medications
Welcome to the Medications page. Please click on the plus-sign (+) to read more about a particular medication.
If you are having difficulty reading the page, please visit our text-based page: Text-Based Medication Page.
ACTEMRA® is a prescription medicine called an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor inhibitor. ACTEMRA® is used to treat adults with moderately to severly active active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after at least one other medicine called a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist has been used and did not work well. It is given as a monthly IV infusion.
For more information about ACTEMRA®, please visit www.actemra.com
AMVUTTRA® (vutrisiran) is an FDA approved small interfering RNA (siRNA) medication used to treat transthyretin mediated amyloidosis (ATTR), including hereditary polyneuropathy and both hereditary and wild type cardiomyopathy, given as a 25 mg subcutaneous injection every 3 months.
For more information about AMVUTTRA®, please visit https://www.amvuttra.com/
BENLYSTA®is a prescription medication used to treat adults with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) who are receiving other lupus medicines
For more information about BENLYSTA®, please visit www.benlysta.com
Boniva is a prescription medicine used to treat or prevent osteoporosis in women after menopause. Boniva helps increase bone mass and helps reduce the chance of having a spinal fracture (break).
For more information, please read: Boniva Medication Guide (PDF)
CIMZIA® (certolizumab pegol) is an exciting new option in RA therapy which in clinical trial has been shown to reduce pain, stiffness and fatigue as fast as 1 to 2 weeks. Many patients on CIMZIA® experienced lasting relief at both 6 months and 1 year.
CIMZIA® is a medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active Rheumatoid Arthritis and is also approved for Crohn’s disease.
CIMZIA® is referred to as an “anti-TNF therapy”. By blocking tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, CIMZIA® helps reduce the inflammation, stiffness and joint damage RA causes.
CIMZIA® is taken by an injection under the skin. After initial doses, CIMZIA® can be injected every 2 or 4 weeks and may be taken with or without other RA medications like methotrexate.
For more information about CIMZIA®, please visit www.cimzia.com
COSENTYX® (secukinumab) is a subcutaneous injection indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. It is also indicated for the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis and active ankylosing spondylitis.
For more information on COSENTYX®, go to: www.cosentyxhcp.com
ENTYVIO is a prescription medicine (intravenous; injection) used in adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD).
For more information on ENTYVIO, please visit www.entyvio.com .
ILUMYA® is the brand name for tildrakizumab-asmn, a biologic drug designed to target the immune system and reduce inflammation associated with plaque psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks skin cells, causing thick, scaly, and often itchy patches on areas like the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back
For more information on ILUMYA®, please visit www.ilumya.com.
IVIG, or intravenous immunoglobulin, is a medical treatment in which a solution of antibodies (immunoglobulins) derived from the plasma of thousands of healthy donors is infused directly into a vein. The term "intravenous" refers to the method of delivery through a vein, while "immunoglobulin" refers to the antibodies that help the body fight infections and regulate immune responses
KEVZARA (sarilumab) is an injectable prescription medicine
called an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor blocker. Kevzara is used to treat
adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
after at least one other medicine called a disease-modifying antirheumatic
drug (DMARD) has been used and did not work well or could not be tolerated.
Read more about KEVZARA at www.kevzara.com
KRYSTEXXA®, also known by its generic name pegloticase, is an enzyme-based medication designed to treat chronic gout in adults whose condition is not controlled by other treatments such as allopurinol, febuxostat, or probenecid. It works by metabolizing uric acid into a harmless substance that the body can excrete in urine, helping to reduce uric acid levels and prevent the formation of painful uric acid crystals in joints and tissues.
For more information on KRYSTEXXA®, please visit www.krystexxa.com.
LEQEMBI®, also known by its generic name lecanemab, is a prescription biologic drug designed to treat Alzheimer’s disease in adults who have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia caused by amyloid beta pathology. It works by targeting and removing amyloid beta protein plaques in the brain, which are associated with the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. While Leqembi can slow the decline in memory, thinking, and behavior, it does not cure Alzheimer’s disease
For more information on LEQEMBI®, please visit www.leqembi.com.
LEQVIO® (inclisiran) is a prescription injectable medication used to lower “bad” cholesterol (LDL-C) in adults with high cholesterol, including those with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, by targeting PCSK9 protein production.
For more information on LEQVIO®, please visit www.leqvio.com.
LUMVOA™ is used to treat thyroid eye disease (TED), regardless of TED disease activity or duration. It is given by intravenous infusion once every three weeks for a total of five infusions.
For more information on LUMVOA™ , please visit www.lumvoahcp.com.
OCREVUS® (ocrelizumab) is a medication used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), specifically for relapsing forms and primary progressive MS. It is administered as an intravenous infusion every six months and works by targeting and destroying B cells, which are involved in the progression of MS. OCREVUS® helps to reduce relapses and slow disability progression in patients with MS.
For more information on OCREVUS®, please visit www.ocrevus.com.
OLUMIANT (baracitinib) is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. JAK
inhibitors help disrupt how cells respond to some cytokines. Cytokines are
proteins that allow cells to communicate with each other, and excess cytokines
may cause inflammation. In RA, joint inflammation may cause pain, swelling,
and tenderness. It is not known which disrupted cytokines are most related to
the therapeutic effects of Olumiant
Read more about OLUMIANT at www.olumiant.com
Joint pain and inflammation can limit your abilities from washing your hair to finishing a project at work. In fact, scientists have studied and identified the impact an illness such as rheumatoid arthritis can have on a person’s health-related quality of life in specific areas. Researchers have assessed these areas using a survey called the SF-36®. The SF-36® asks 36 questions in 8 areas of function about physical and mental aspects of an individual’s health-related quality of life. ORENCIA® has been shown to improve the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, slow the advance of joint damage, and help improve physical function.
Read more about ORENCIA® at www.orencia.com
Otezla (apremilast) is a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor given as a twice daily pill used to treat adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis and certain types of psoriasis.
For more information on Otezla, please visit www.otezla.com.
Prolia® (denosumab) is a different way to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis in women who have an increased risk for fractures. Prolia is one shot, given in your doctor’s office every 6 months, that can help reduce fracture risk and strengthen your bones.
For more information about Prolia®, please visit www.prolia.com
Maintaining your bone health can help you stay strong for your family, friends and the other parts of your active life. Just one annual dose of Reclast, along with daily calcium and Vitamin D, helps to increase your bone density. So your bones can be stronger and better protected.
For more information, please visit the Reclast® webpage.
When taken with methotrexate, REMICADE® can provide quick symptom relief—in as few as 2 weeks for some patients. Of course, the potential impact of RA goes beyond your day-to-day symptoms. So it’s good to know that REMICADE® can also help stop the progression of long-term damage. Individual results may vary.
Read more about REMICADE® at www.remicade.com
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RINVOQ (upadacitinib) is a JAK (Janus kinase) inhibitor
approved for adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis for whom
methotrexate did not work well. It has been evaluated across multiple clinical
studies in over 2,600 people.Read more about RINVOQ at www.rinvoq.com
RITUXAN® (rituximab) is a monoclonal antibody used in adults with another prescription medicine called methotrexate, to reduce the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe active RA, after at least one other medicine called a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor has not been effective. It is also approved for Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA or Wegeners) and Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA), Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and certain leukemias.
Read more about RITUXAN® at www.rituxan.com
SAPHNELO® (anifrolumab-fnia) is an FDA approved prescription biologic medicine used to treat adults with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) who are already taking other lupus medications. It is not approved for severe active lupus nephritis or severe active central nervous system lupus
For more information on SAPHNELO®, please visit www.saphnelohcp.com.
SILIQ (brodalumab) injection is a prescription medicine used
to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: who may benefit from
injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using
ultraviolet light treatment) and who have tried another systemic therapy that
didn’t work or stopped.
Read more about SILIQ at www.siliq.com
SIMPONI ARIA ® (golimumab) is a 30 minute intravenous nifusion approved for use in patients with moderate to severe RA usually in conjunction with methotrexate.
For more information on SIMPONI ARIA ®, please visit www.simponiariahcp.com.
SKYRIZI (risankizumab) is a prescription medicine used to
treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who may benefit from
taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or treatment using ultraviolet
or UV light (phototherapy).
Read more about SKYRIZI at www.skyrizi.com
STELARA® (ustekinumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis. STELARA® can be used alone or in combination with methotrexate (MTX).It is also indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy and also indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease who have:
– failed or were intolerant to treatment with immunomodulators or corticosteroids, but never failed treatment with a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker, or
– failed or were intolerant to treatment with one or more TNF blockers
For more information on STELARA®, please visit www.stelarainfo.com .
TALTZ (ixekizumab) is approved to treat people six years and
older with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) who may benefit from
taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using
ultraviolet or UV light). Taltz is also approved for adult patients with
active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), adults with active ankylosing spondylitis
(AS), and adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis
(nr-axSpA) with objective signs of inflammation.
Read more about TALTZ at www.taltz.com
TEPEZZA (teprotumumab-trbw) is a prescription medication used to treat thyroid eye disease (TED). It helps to reduce symptoms such as eye bulging, double vision, eye pain, redness, and swelling. Tepezza is effective even in patients who have had TED for more than 10 years. It is administered as an IV infusion and is classified as a biologic drug
Read more about TEPEZZA at www.tepezza.com
TREMFYA (guselkumab) is a prescription medicine used to treat
adults with active psoriatic arthritis and moderate to severe plaque psoriasis
who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or
phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet or UV light).
Read more about TREMFYA at www.tremfya.com
TYMLOS (abaloparatide) is indicated for the treatment of
postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture defined as a
history of osteoporotic fracture, multiple risk factors for fracture, or
patients who have failed or are intolerant to other available osteoporosis
therapy. In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, Tymlos reduces the risk of
vertebral fractures and nonvertebral fracture.
Read more about TYMLOS at www.tymlos.com
VYEPTI® is an intravenous (IV) infusion medication administered every three months to help reduce the number of migraine days in adults with chronic or episodic migraines. It works by blocking calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a protein involved in migraine attacks. CGRP levels rise during migraines and may trigger or worsen headache pain, so inhibiting it can prevent migraine episodes
Read more about VYEPTI® at www.vyepti.com.
VYVGART®, also known as efgartigimod alfa, is a biologic medication that belongs to the class of neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) blockers. It is designed to reduce harmful antibodies in the blood, particularly IgG antibodies, which are involved in autoimmune conditions like gMG, where they attack acetylcholine receptors on muscle cells, causing muscle weakness and fatigue
Read more about VYVGART® at https://www.vyvgart.com.
XELJANZ is a prescription medicine called a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. XELJANZ is used to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis in which methotrexate did not work well.
Read more about XELJANZ at www.xeljanz.com
XOLAIR® is primarily used to manage allergic asthma, chronic hives (chronic spontaneous urticaria), nasal polyps, and IgE-mediated food allergies in patients whose symptoms are not adequately controlled by standard treatments. It works by binding to IgE, a protein that triggers allergic reactions, preventing IgE from attaching to immune cells like mast cells and basophils. This reduces the release of chemical mediators such as histamine, thereby decreasing inflammation and allergy symptoms over time.
Read more about XOLAIR® at https://www.xolair.com.