These medications are called disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) because they have the potential to reduce or prevent joint damage and preserve joint integrity and function.
This group of drugs includes methotrexate and sulfasalazine.
They are used mainly in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis but also in some other rheumatic diseases. They can work to reduce pain, swelling and stiffness.
In AS DMARDs are recommended only where there is peripheral involvement and not for axial symptoms. This means that DMARDs might be effective where symptoms are in the hips, knees, ankles or arms. However they are less likely to work where symptoms are mainly in the spine and neck. The diagram on this page shows what is known as the axial skeleton.
Overall there have not been many clinical trials for DMARDs in AS and most of the trials which have been conducted do not show efficacy on the axial symptoms of AS.
Last reviewed: October 2010
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