Group puts out new rheumatoid arthritis treatment guidelines

Rheumatoid arthritis should be treated early and aggressively, according to a new set of guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology. The recommendations suggest that patients receive medications in the early stages of treatment, which may require a prescription to buy Celebrex.

The University of Alabama researchers who wrote the updated guidelines said the treatment recommendations had not been revised since 2008. Since that time there have been a number of major advancements in care for arthritis patients. The new guidelines reflect this progress.

"With so many new advances in the treatment of RA since 2008, it was important to update recommendations now as the field strives to better control disease progression and improve quality of life," said Jasvinder Singh, the lead author of the new recommendations.

Aside from urging early and aggressive treatment, the guidelines underscore the importance of vaccinating arthritis patients against viruses that cause shingles and HPV infection, both of which are common among these patients.

The new recommendations could make it clearer when a patient will require a prescription to buy Celebrex to improve their condition.