Arthritis Health Center

News Related to Arthritis

141. Biologics for Rheumatoid Arthritis: No Cure-all
     

     May 1, 2009 -- Biologic therapies often prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis do help improve symptoms but don't eliminate them, according to a new study. However, patients who remain on subcutaneous biologic therapies -- medications injected under the skin -- have fewer symptoms than those who discon

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142. FDA OKs Simponi for Rheumatoid Arthritis
     

     April 24, 2009 -- The FDA has approved Simponi (golimumab), a monthly treatment for adults with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. All three conditions are chronic disorders in which the immune system attacks multiple joints, causing stiffness,

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143. Naltrexone May Ease Fibromyalgia Symptoms
     

     April 17, 2009 -- An inexpensive drug called naltrexone may make a good treatment for fibromyalgia, report researchers at Stanford University. Naltrexone isn't a new drug; it's been around for more than 30 years and is used to treat opioid addiction. Stanford's Jarred Younger, PhD, and Sean Mackey,

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144. Birth Control Pills May Raise Lupus Risk
     

     April 13, 2009 -- Women who take birth control pills, especially higher-dose versions, may have an increased risk of getting lupus, an autoimmune disease, according to a new study. "Women who take oral contraceptives have a 50% higher risk of having lupus than women who don't take them," says study

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145. Fear Keeps Many From Fighting RA Pain
     

     March 25, 2009 -- Many people with rheumatoid arthritis may have barriers that hinder optimal management of their pain, a study suggests. Barriers to pain reduction, Canadian researchers say, include fear of medication side effects, fear of drug interactions, worry about drug addiction, concerns tha

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146. Vitamin C May Help Prevent Gout
     

     March 9, 2009 -- Boosting vitamin C intake may be a simple way to help prevent one of the most common forms of arthritis. A new study shows the vitamin better known for fighting colds may also prevent gout. Researchers found men who had the highest vitamin C intake from supplements and food were up

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147. Arthritis Treatments Raise Shingles Risk
     

     Feb. 17, 2009 -- Some of the powerful new drugs that offer relief to rheumatoid arthritis sufferers may increase risk of a different kind of suffering: shingles. Members of a class of drugs called TNF-alpha blockers nearly doubled the risk of herpes zoster, better known as shingles, among rheumatoid

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148. FDA OKs New Gout Drug Uloric
     

     Feb. 16, 2009 -- The FDA has approved Uloric, the first new gout drug in more than 40 years, according to Uloric's maker, Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Uloric, taken once daily by mouth, is approved for the chronic management of hyperuricemia (elevated levels of uric acid) in gout patients. Uloric works b

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149. Psoriasis Drug May Ease Psoriatic Arthritis
     

     Feb. 12, 2009 -- Ustekinumab, a biologic drug designed to treat psoriasis, may also curb psoriatic arthritis, researchers report online in The Lancet. Ustekinumab isn't on the market. Its maker, Centocor Inc., had asked the FDA to consider approving ustekinumab to treat chronic moderate to severe pl

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150. FDA OKs Fibromyalgia Drug Savella
     

     Jan. 15, 2009 -- The FDA has approved a new drug called Savella for the management of fibromyalgia. Savella belongs to a class of drugs called serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which include some antidepressants. The drug companies behind Savella -- Forest Laboratories Inc. a

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