For consumers

About inflammatory arthritis​

  • There are many different types of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are all types of inflammatory arthritis. These conditions are caused by the immune system attacking the tissues of your own body.​
  • Safe and effective treatments are available to control inflammatory arthritis, reducing symptoms and preventing joint damage.​
  • Take your medicine as prescribed to avoid long-term damage to your joints, even if you are feeling well. ​
  • If you are doing well, your rheumatologist may suggest reducing your medicine dose or how often you take it. It’s important that you work closely with your rheumatologist to find the treatment approach that’s right for you. ​
  • Talk to your health professional if you have any concerns about your medicines.​
  • For biological medicines, there may be a biosimilar medicine available. Biosimilar medicines have been tested and shown to be as safe and effective as the reference biological medicine. Talk to your rheumatologist about whether a biosimilar is right for you.​
  • Develop a plan with your rheumatologist on how you will manage a flare.

Information to help you manage your arthritis

RAGetty Images-1161412866

Rheumatoid arthritis​

PSArth Getty Images-1327305673

Psoriatic arthritis​

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Ankylosing spondylitis​

Translated resources

The above resources are available in Arabic, simplified Chinese (Mandarin) and Vietnamese.

Translated resources

Living with Arthritis – Australians talk about their treatment journeys

Hear the stories of people living with inflammatory arthritis.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis: Suzanne’s story

Treating inflammatory arthritis

Further information

  • Understanding biosimilars​
    If you use a biological medicine to treat or keep a chronic condition under control, then you may have heard your doctor mention a group of medicines called biosimilars. Read on to learn more​
  • Biological medicines and COVID-19 FAQs​
    Biological medicines are being studied for their effectiveness and safety as a treatment for COVID-19. Here’s what we know so far.

MedicineWise App

The MedicineWise app is a free health and medicines management app. Features have been developed to support people with inflammatory arthritis, including a dose tracker to manage complex dosing or stepping up or stepping down of medicines. The MedicineWise app can:

  • keep track of your medicines and remind you when your medicine doses and appointments are due
  • store your information such as your health conditions and allergies
  • allow you to share your health information with your health professionals and people who may be caring for you
  • provide you with trusted, relevant and up-to-date information relating to your medicines and your health conditions
Find out more

Practical support for newly diagnosed patients

TARGETED THERAPIES ALLIANCE

Helping consumers and health professionals make safe and wise therapeutic decisions about biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and other specialised medicines. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health through the Value in Prescribing bDMARDs Program Grant.