5. Medication at a glance It’s important to say that whilst it can be a scary prospect to consider that your child may have to take medication for many years, not taking the drugs recommended by the health professionals can have long-term consequences. Unfortunately, the evidence shows that not taking the recommended medication can lead to damaged joints which never recover. Untreated or under-treated JIA in children could result in further health problems. Your child will be continuously monitored, and sideeffects can usually be effectively dealt with in several ways. It’s a good idea to mention any health supplements or complementary medicine that your child has been taking and any side effects from the prescribed medication.
“It can take a while to find the right combination of drugs for your child. For many parents this is the hardest and most challenging time. Each drug has to be given a fair amount of time to work (sometimes months) and it can be incredibly frustrating - I remember thinking that I wasn’t sure I trusted the docs any more as nothing seemed to work, until finally it did! Health professionals will not stop until the disease is under control, so you may have to be patient yet persistent.” Quote from a parent of a child with JIA.
