Cytotoxic Drugs.
Last updated Thursday, December 30, 2004
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Uses of cytotoxic drugsConditions treated by cytotoxic drugs Cytotoxic drugs can be used to treat many forms of arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as conditions such as steroid-resistant polymyositis or dermatomyositis, Wegener's granulomatosis, polyarteritis or some forms of vasculitis.
Warnings If cytotoxic drugs are recommended for you, be sure to consult a
doctor who has experience using these drugs. When considering treatment
with cytotoxic drugs, you, your doctor, and your family will want to
consider factors such as:
- the severity of your disease
- the potential benefits of the drug
- the potential side effects
As with other drugs, there are no guarantees that cytotoxic drugs
will work for you. On the other hand, it isn't certain that serious
negative effects will occur if you try these drugs. For severe cases of
arthritis, many experts agree that, when properly used, the risk of
side effects from the drugs may be less than the risk to your health
from the disease itself. Talk to your doctor about the side effects and
whether the benefits of the medicine outweigh the risks.
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