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Autoimmune SupportAutoimmune Support

Medicines in this group change how the immune system behaves, but for quite different reasons: some calm joint and skin inflammation, some prevent a transplanted organ being rejected, and one treats a form of multiple sclerosis. Which medicine suits a person depends on the condition being treated.

Humira

Adalimumab

20mg / 0.4ml · 40mg / 0.8ml

Formulated to alleviate severe autoimmune inflammation to support joint mobility and target chronic tissue degradation.

From$285.38/ auto-injectorView

Imuran

Azathioprine

25mg · 50mg

Utilised to manage chronic immune hyperactivity to alleviate joint tissue damage and support organ transplant viability.

From$1.55/ tabletView

Prograf

Tacrolimus

0.5mg · 1mg · 5mg

Intended to relieve transplant rejection risks to support physical organ viability and target immune responses.

From$3.34/ tabletView

Cellcept

Mycophenolate Mofetil

250mg · 500mg

Formulated to alleviate immunological transplant rejection risks to support organ function and target T-lymphocyte proliferation.

From$2.91/ capsuleView

Ciclosporin Capsules

Ciclosporin

50mg · 100mg

Intended to relieve autoimmune cell proliferation to support chronic organ viability and target inflammatory responses.

From$4.10/ capsuleView

Arava

Leflunomide

10mg · 20mg

Formulated to alleviate joint inflammation to support physical mobility and target progressive skeletal damage.

From$1.90/ tabletView

Aubagio

Teriflunomide

14mg

Reduce the frequency of relapses and slow disease progression in relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis

From$205.67/ tabletView

Orapred

Prednisolone

2.5mg · 5mg · 10mg · 20mg · 40mg

Formulated to target inflammatory responses, this therapy is indicated to alleviate symptoms of chronic inflammatory conditions and support immune system management.

From$0.72/ tabletView

Key points

  • NHS notes adalimumab is used for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and several other inflammatory conditions.
  • NHS notes azathioprine is used for autoimmune conditions and to help prevent transplant rejection, with regular blood tests during treatment.
  • Medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection are, in some cases, also prescribed for inflammatory joint disease.

Medicines for joint and skin inflammation

Humira contains adalimumab, used for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and plaque psoriasis; NHS sets out its range of uses in About adalimumab. Arava contains leflunomide for active rheumatoid arthritis, and Orapred contains prednisolone for rheumatoid arthritis as well as asthma and allergic conditions.

Medicines for preventing organ transplant rejection

Cellcept contains mycophenolate mofetil and Prograf contains tacrolimus, both used to help prevent transplant rejection. Ciclosporin Capsules serves the same purpose as well as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Imuran contains azathioprine, used for autoimmune conditions and to prevent kidney transplant rejection; NHS recommends regular blood tests during treatment in About azathioprine.

Aubagio and relapsing multiple sclerosis

Aubagio contains teriflunomide, used for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, including clinically isolated syndrome and active secondary progressive disease. It treats a neurological condition rather than a joint, skin or transplant-related one, though like the rest of this group it works by altering immune-cell activity.

Further reading

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