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Home > Services > Rheumatology > Rheumatology Patients > My rheumatology medication

My rheumatology medication

Here you will find some information about rheumatology drugs and medications which we hope you find helpful.

How to order a repeat prescription

Your GP will prescribe most of your usual medications and some of your rheumatology medications. Please follow these steps to request a repeat prescription if we have asked you to do that.

  1. Ring prescription line (0191 213 7967) or email [email protected]
  2. Please then leave a message on the answerphone clearly telling us:
    • Your name
    • Your hospital (MRN) number/NHS number
    • The name of the medication you need
    • The dose of the medication you need
    • When you would like to collect you medication (at least 7 working days later)
  3. If your medication is one of those listed below the prescription will now be issued to your local community pharmacy (the same pharmacy that you use to collect prescriptions issued by your GP for you to collect).
    • Methotrexate
    • Hydroxychloroquine
    • Leflunomide
    • Mycophenolate
    • Azathioprine
    • Dapsone

Repeat prescriptions for sildenafil, tadadafil, folic acid and prednisolone will be issued by your GP.

All other rheumatology medications will be dispensed by the Freeman Hospital outpatient pharmacy for you to collect or delivered by our Home Care service.

Pharmacy opening times

Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 6pm
Saturday: 8.30am – 12pm

Monitoring

For almost all rheumatology medication some safety monitoring is needed. Your doctor or nurse will ensure you understand this and explain what is needed before and during treatment. Our dedicated nursing team will explain our monitoring procedures. Monitoring blood tests are done frequently to start with and then less often. We will contact you by phone to tell you what to do if your blood tests become abnormal.

It is your responsibility to ensure you make and keep appointments for blood monitoring. If your blood tests are not up to date we can not issue a further prescription for your rheumatology drugs. This is because we cannot be sure they are still safe for you to take.

If you need to rearrange a blood monitoring appointment please contact ABC (our appointments centre) on 0191 282 4444.

Biologics and biosimilar drugs

Biologic medicines are first made and tested by a single pharmaceutical company. After an agreed number of years other companies can make copies of the medicine. A copy of a biologic medicine is a called a “biosimilar”. This means that the medicine produced will be “similar” to the original biologic. There are now several “biosimilar” versions of biologics available in the UK. They have been thoroughly tested and they work as well as the orginal medicine.

The authorities that regulate medicines in the UK have said that all biosimilar versions are as safe and effective as each other and can be used interchangeably (prescribers can change between brands with no issues). Biosimilars are available to the NHS at a much lower price than the original medicine. As a result, we can now ‘switch’ between the ‘brands’ to use the most cost effective one.

This will allow us to use NHS resources more efficiently, treat more patients, and improve the services we can provide. You will be informed by letter prior to any biosimilar switch of your medication.

This short video has been produced to help you understand how biosimilar drugs are made and tested:

Biosimilar Medicines Information

Abatacept

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on Abatacept.

Adalimumab

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on Adalimumab.

Avacopan

Avacopan (also known by the brand name Tavneos®) is used to treat adults with vasculitis, a condition that causes inflammation of the small blood vessels. It is used to treat two types of vasculitis: granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). If you start this medication, we will give you a patient information leaflet with further details.

The EMA’s human medicines committee (CHMP) has concluded its review of the medicine Tavneos (avacopan). The CHMP recommends revoking the medicine’s marketing authorisation in the European Union because the available evidence no longer shows that its benefits outweigh its risks.

Azathioprine

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on azathioprine.

Baricitinib

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on baricitinib.

Belimumab

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on belimumab.

Benralizumab

Benralizumab is now available for use in EGPA (vasculitis). This leaflet is intended for patients with asthma (where this drug is already used).

Bimekizumab (Bimlzelx)

Visit electronic medicines compendium for more information on bimekizumab (bimlzelx).

Bosentan

Click here for more information on Bosentan.

Certolizumab pegol

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on certolizumab pegol

Cyclophosphamide

Visit the Arthritis UK for more information on cyclophosphamide.

Epoprostenol for Raynaud’s

Epoprostenol is a medication that helps widen blood vessels and improve circulation. In Raynaud’s – especially severe cases or when ulcers develop on the fingers. it can help restore blood flow and reduce pain.

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on Iloprost.

Why we use this medication
  • Improves blood flow to the fingers
  • Helps heal or prevent digital ulcers
  • Used when other treatments (like tablets) have not worked well

How we will give you this medication
  • You will receive epoprostenol through a drip (IV infusion) in hospital.
  • The infusion usually runs over 3 days, as a day case.

What you might feel
  • Headache, flushing, jaw pain, nausea, or light-headedness are common during treatment.
  • These usually improve as the dose is adjusted.

Important points

  • We will monitor you closely during the infusion.
  • Tell your team if you feel unwell, dizzy, or have chest discomfort.
  • Because it affects blood pressure, it may not suit everyone.

Etanercept

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on etanercept.

Filgotinib

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on filgotinib.

Golimumab

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on golimumab.

Hydroxychloroquine

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on hydroxychloroquine.

Infliximab

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on infliximab.

Ixekizumab (Taltz)

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on ixekizumab (Taltz).

Leflunomide

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on leflunomide.

Methotrexate

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on methotrexate.

Mycophenolate

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on mycophenolate.

Risankizumab (Skyrizi)

Visit electronic medicines compendium for more information on Risankizumab (Skyrizi).

Rituximab

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on Rituximab.

Secukinumab

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on Secukinumab.

Sildenafil/Tadalafil

Using Sildenafil and Tadalafil for Raynaud’s Phenomenon

Why we use this medication

Raynaud’s causes small blood vessels in the fingers and toes to tighten too much in cold. Sildenafil and tadalafil belong to a group of medicines called PDE-5 inhibitors, which help relax blood vessels. This relaxation can improve blood flow to the hands and feet, reducing:

  • Frequency of Raynaud’s attacks.
  • Severity of colour changes, pain, and numbness.
  • Risk of complications such as digital ulcers (mainly in severe or systemic sclerosis-related Raynaud’s).

How you will take this medication
  • You will take sildenafil 3 times daily in low doses.
  • You may take tadalafil as a once-daily low dose because it lasts longer in the body.

A clinician will tailor your dose based on your symptoms and tolerability.

Possible side effects

Common side effects include headache, flushing, indigestion, nasal congestion, or dizziness. Because these medicines lower blood pressure slightly, patients who already take blood pressure-lowering medication or have heart issues may need careful monitoring.

Who may benefit

PDE-5 inhibitors are typically considered when:

  • First-line treatments (e.g., calcium channel blockers like nifedipine) are ineffective or poorly tolerated.
  • The Raynaud’s is severe, particularly in systemic sclerosis.

Important notes

You should only use these medications under medical supervision. They are not suitable for patients who take nitrates or some heart medications, and they may interact with other drugs.

Steroids

You may have steroids in tablet form, by deep intramuscular injection, by infusion (drip) or directly injected into joints. Your nurse or doctor will explain why you need steroids and what the benefits and side effects might be for you.

More patient information on steroids is available on the Arthritis UK website.

If you are taking steroids for a long time, you will need to know about the ‘steroid sick day rules’. Your doctor or nurse can give you a leaflet about this.

Sulfasalazine

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on sulfasalazine.

Tocilizumab

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on tocilizumab.

Tofacitinib

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on tofacitinib.

Upadacitinib

Visit Arthritis UK for more information on upadacitinib.

Locations

Consultants