In conquering rheumatoid arthritis, combining a popular steroid with one of the classes of drugs designed to treat arthritis works better than any one drug alone to reduce joint swelling, tenderness or pain, says the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Right now three classes of drugs combat this joint-destroying autoimmune disease: synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologic DMARDs and corticosteroids, like prednisone. Researchers found using prednisone with a synthetic DMARD works better than either drug alone.

But DMARDs shouldn’t be combined; they’re no more effective in combination. Plus they can increase your risk of infection when used together.

See your healthcare provider if you notice these symptoms: fatigue, morning stiffness, weakness and muscle aches. As arthritis progresses, joint pain can affect your wrists, knees, elbows, fingers, toes or neck. Within two years of symptom onset, untreated arthritis can cause significant joint destruction.