缓解病情抗风湿病的药物(DMARDs)

Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)

Methotrexate (Rheumatrex)
Leflunomide (Arava)

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, better known as “DMARDs,” are immunosuppressive medications that are used to treat the pain and swelling of the arthritis that can accompany lupus. DMARDs not only reduce this pain and swelling, but they may also be able to decrease long term damage to your joints.

缓解病情抗风湿病的药物(DMARDs)

甲氨蝶呤(Rheumatrex)

来氟米特Leflunomide(Arava)

缓解病情抗风湿病的药物,称为“DMARDs”,是免疫抑制药物用于治疗狼疮病人常有的关节炎的疼痛和肿胀。DMARDs不仅减少疼痛和肿胀,但他们还可以减少长期关节的损害。

Methotrexate (Rheumatrex)

Methotrexate is one of the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and it is used in lupus patients to alleviate the joint pain and swelling of polyarthritis (arthritis involving multiple joints). It is only mildly effective for more severe lupus symptoms involving the kidneys and other organs and should be used carefully in people with these conditions. Historically, methotrexate has been used to treat cancer and psoriasis, a skin condition that can also affect the joints. However, in the late 1980s, the medication was approved by the FDA for the treatment of arthritis and has been used commonly for this ever since. Methotrexate works by interfering with the production of folic acid, which is a building block for growing cells in your body. As a result, methotrexate hinders the growth of certain cells, including those of the immune system. This medication is also steroid-sparing, meaning it can be used in conjunction with steroids to lower the dose of steroid therapy and thus also lower the associated side effects.

甲氨蝶呤(Rheumatrex) 甲氨蝶呤是最常用的药物之一,用来治疗风湿性关节炎,是用于狼疮患者缓解多发性关节炎的关节疼痛和肿胀(涉及多个关节的关节炎)。对于更严重的红斑狼疮症状包括带有肾脏和其他器官损伤的,效果缓慢不明显,应该谨慎使用。从历史上看,甲氨蝶呤用于治疗癌症和牛皮癣,以及影响关节的皮肤病。然而,在1980年代末,药物被FDA批准用于治疗关节炎并普遍使用到现在。甲氨蝶呤是通过干扰叶酸的生产,从而建立一个影响细胞生长的阻断。因此,甲氨蝶呤阻碍特定细胞的增长,其中包括免疫系统。这种药物也叫激素佐剂steroid-sparing,这意味着它可以与降低剂量的类固醇一起治疗,从而也降低相关的副作用。

The medication is usually taken as a tablet in doses of 7.5 to 25 milligrams (mg) per week, but it can also be given as an injection. People taking methotrexate usually feel improvements in 3-6 weeks, but it can take up to 3 months to feel the full benefit of the drug. Be sure to take this medication as directed. If you miss a dose, you can usually take the medication up to 4 or 5 days after. However, if you miss this window, contact your doctor regarding how you should proceed.

药物通常是作为片剂服用，每周剂量7.5毫克到25毫克。但它也可以注射给药。人们通常服用甲氨蝶呤3－6周后感觉有改善，但它需要3个月才感觉到药物的全部功效。一定要在医生指导下用药。如果你忘服了一次,通常要4到5天再服用。然而,如果你错过了这个期限,联系你的医生问明你应该下一步如何进行。（未完）