What are some of the main medical treatments for psoriatic arthritis?

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    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Psoriatic arthritis has no cure, but effective treatments exist to reduce symptoms, and options vary based on individual severity. Milder cases may use over-the-counter medications and corticosteroid injections, but more severe cases may require disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologic response modifiers.

    There is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, but treatments are effective for reducing disease symptoms and their severity. The treatments selected depend on the individual’s signs and symptoms and their severity. Often different medications are tried alone or in combination until the physician finds something that works.

    Treatments for milder forms of the disease:

    • Over the counter analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications to treat pain and swelling
    • Corticosteroid injections into affected joints

    Treatments for more severe forms of the disease:

    • Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS, oral therapies that broadly suppress the immune system)

    • Biologic response modifiers (i.e., therapies that target specific immune signals to reduce disease activity)