Infusions for Rheumatoid Arthritis: How They Work, Types, and Pros and Cons

Rheumatoid Arthritis affects the joints, muscles, tendons, and other parts of the body, making everyday tasks challenging. This condition often leads to substantial disability — 20% of people are work-disabled within two years of onset, and half are unable to work after 10 years.  

For some patients, treatment for rheumatoid arthritis using drugs such as methotrexate provides relief, but others find their immune system doesn't respond well to these medications.

Infusions for Rheumatoid Arthritis are a game-changer where other treatments fail.

These infusions target the root cause of the disease, efficiently slowing its progression, reducing inflammation, and improving quality of life.

This article covers everything you need to know about infusions for rheumatoid arthritis — how they work, their possible side effects, and when you can expect results.

What to Know About Infusions for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Infusions for Rheumatoid Arthritis are a prescription therapy designed to treat this chronic inflammatory autoimmune condition.

They are often prescribed to patients who don’t respond well to conventional treatments such as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

These infusions can also be combined with other treatments.

Unlike treatments that only alleviate symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis, infusions target the root cause of the disease. They help manage severe cases by slowing down joint damage, stiffness, and inflammation.

How Infusions for Rheumatoid Arthritis Work

Infusions for Rheumatoid Arthritis contain biologics—potent medicine extracted from living cells.

Unlike chemically synthesized drugs, biologics contain complex proteins that attack the cells responsible for the disease.

These infusions are administered directly into the bloodstream through an Intravenous Line (IV) placed inside the arm. The process takes anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours.

Compared to injections for Rheumatoid Arthritis and oral medications, infusions are more effective because they bypass the skin, fat tissues, and digestive system, all of which reduce the medicine’s potency.

How quickly you see results depends on your immune system’s response. Improvement may appear within weeks or months.

Types of Infusions for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Infusions for Rheumatoid Arthritis are categorized based on the specific inflammatory cells they target.

These categories include:

• B-Cell Inhibitors: They inhibit B lymphocytes, which cause inflammation. An example is Rituximab (Rituxan)
• T-Cell Inhibitors: These target inhibit T cells (a type of white blood cell) that also contribute to inflammation. An example is Abatacept (Orencia)
• Interleukin-1 Blockers: They block an inflammatory compound known as interleukin-1. An example is Anankira (Kineret)
• Interleukin-6 Inhibitors: These prevent interleukin-6 proteins from attaching to healthy cells. An example is Sarilumab (Kevzara)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors: They inhibit the tumor necrosis factor, which plays a role in the early inflammation stages. An example is Adalimumab (Humira)

Pros and Cons of Infusions for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Before deciding if infusions are right for you, weigh the pros and cons.

Pros

• Effective when other medication fails
• Ideal for people who dislike injection therapy or oral medication
• Longer intervals between infusions (ranging from monthly to once every six months)

Cons

• Must be administered by a doctor
• The process can take up to six hours
• Expensive, and insurance may not cover the cost
• Can have side effects

Possible Side Effects of Infusions for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Some mild effects you might experience include:

• Nausea
• Rash
• Headache
• Pain and swelling at the infusion spot

To help minimize these effects, your doctor may give you medication such as antihistamines or acetaminophen beforehand.

Occasionally, more serious reactions may occur, such as:

• Fatigue
• Difficulty breathing
• Fever and chills
• Swollen hands and feet
• Upper respiratory tract infections

Get Infusions for Rheumatoid Arthritis at Southwest Florida Rheumatology

Rheumatoid Arthritis reduces life expectancy by 5 to 10 years, so it’s important to seek treatment to manage the condition.

At Southwest Florida Rheumatology, we specialize in treating conditions that attack the joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and connective tissues. Our expert team is equipped to diagnose and manage complex rheumatologic and autoimmune diseases.

If you’re looking for a rheumatologist in Sun City Center, FL, our clinic is dedicated to diagnosing and treating various rheumatic conditions, including arthritis and joint disorders.

We also serve patients at our Riverview and Wesley Chapel offices.