The FDA required the safety trial, which also investigated other potential risks, including blood clots in the lungs and death. AdIn the release, the FDA said:“Tofacitinib was first approved in 2012 to treat adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who did not respond well to the medicine methotrexate. In 2017, we approved tofacitinib to treat patients with a second condition that causes joint pain and swelling, psoriatic arthritis (PsA), who did not respond well to methotrexate or other similar medicines. In 2018, we approved the medicine to treat ulcerative colitis, which is a chronic, inflammatory disease affecting the colon. Tofacitinib works by decreasing the activity of the immune system; an overactive immune system contributes to RA, PsA, and ulcerative colitis.

Arthritis the presence of inflammation or degeneration in a joint is a common affliction, especially as we grow older. While there are many non-surgical treatment options that arthritis sufferers can explore, for some, orthopedic surgery may become a necessity. Heres how to tell when its time to seek the opinion of an orthopedic surgeon. How arthritis affects jointsWhen you have arthritis, your cartilage and other joint structures start to break down. Whether your pain has intensified over a period of years or days, those having difficulty walking or performing their everyday activities should consider an evaluation with an orthopedic surgeon.