The COVID Vaccines and Autoimmune Disease
As the COVID vaccine rolls out, people with arthritis and other autoimmune diseases are wondering what this means for them. Is the COVID vaccine safe if you’re taking immunosuppressants, like methotrexate, Humira, Enbrel, and other biologics? Does it work? We don’t have all the answers to these questions, unfortunately. The vaccines are too new, and they haven’t been fully tested on immunocompromised people. That doesn’t mean we can’t find some guidance, though. So, what do we know so far about the COVID vaccine for people with autoimmune diseases? (I am not a doctor, and more importantly, I and others on the internet are not your doctor. Each person is unique,…
Acronyms of arthritis 1: Treatments
Being diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis—like ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis—can seem like being thrown into a world made of cryptic letters. Acronyms are everywhere. Acronyms for types of arthritis like RA, AS, SpA, JIA; acronyms for tests like RF, ESR, CRP; acronyms for treatments like NSAID, DMARD, MTX—it seems to never end! Let’s unravel some of these tricky terms, starting with common drugs you might hear about to treat arthritis. Soon you’ll be using them like a pro! OTC OTC (over-the-counter) medications don’t require a prescription from your doctor. In the US, some fairly effective first-line arthritis treatments are available OTC, such as ibuprofen (Motrin)…
