Adverse events related to use of DMARDs

Certain biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or DMARDs may carry significant warnings related to infections and other adverse events.

In a systematic review published in Drug Safety, investigators compiled a comprehensive list of contraindications and special warnings for biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs taken by patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The purpose of the analysis was to provide an prescription drug safety checklist based on the contraindications, special warnings and boxed warnings of the DMARDs.

The drugs were found to carry warnings for the risk of tuberculosis, herpes zoster, hepatitis reactivation, demyelinating disease, heart failure, major adverse cardiac events, venous thromboembolism, hyperlipidemia, liver and kidney impairment, inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal perforation, cytopenia and depression.

The findings suggested that a standardized prescription safety checklist could assist clinicians in making informed decisions regarding the use of DMARDs in these patients.

Read more: Drug Safety

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