Drug Topics - March 2009 - (Page 40) Continuing Education AN ONGOING CE PROGRAM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND DRUG TOPICS Dana A. Brown, PharmD, BCPS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, LLOYD L. GREGORY SCHOOL OF PHARMACY, PALM BEACH ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY Biologic agents for the management of rheumatoid arthritis R heumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that affects the joints and many other systems in the body. Recognizing signs and symptoms is important to selecting appropriate treatment. Many of the newer, biologic agents are being used to manage the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. However, in light of recent attention placed on the many adverse effects of such medications, it is vital that pharmacists be aware of these side effects and how to manage them. Meet Jessica Jessica is a 35-year-old white female who presents to her physician with complaints of fatigue and bilateral joint pain and stiffness in her hands, wrists, and elbows, symptoms that have been ongoing for the past three or four months. At first, Jessica thought her symptoms were from a recent job change; she has taken on clerical work that requires extensive amounts of typing. She began to think the situation was more serious when she reached for a container of milk in the refrigerator and dropped it, unable to grasp it. Jessica says her stiffness seems to be same as “when I was diagnosed with RA two years ago. It’s worse in the morning, and it may take as long as two hours to get my joints going.” She is also concerned about a “bump” that appeared “several weeks ago” on her left elbow and has not resolved; she describes it as “somewhat soft but firm.” In addition to methotrexate and leflunomide, she is taking scheduled Network SEE INDEX PAGE 8 Clinical For more info on this topic, see www.drugtopics.com COURTESY GETTY IMAGES / STOCKBYTE / DIGITAL VISION / PETER TELLER 40 DRUG TOPICS March 2009 W W W.D R U GTO P I C S .C O M http://www.drugtopics.com
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