OBJECTIVES: This study assessed sociodemographics, health characteristics, and intentional (INA) and unintentional (UNA) non-adherence to symptom-managing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Data from US 2011 National Health and Wellness Survey (n=75,000) included 468 respondents reporting RA diagnosis (including year), exclusive of other arthritis, and currently using biologic DMARDs (n=171), non-biologic DMARDs (n=165), or NSAIDs alone (n=132).  Morisky Medication Adherence Scale items were coded to create INA (“stop taking medicine when feeling [better/worse]”) and UNA (“[forget to take/careless about taking] medicine”) scores: 0=adherent; 1=non-adherent.  Chi-square and t tests compared INA/UNA, sociodemographics, years since diagnosis, adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) scores, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) scores, and Short Form (SF)-12v2 health status across treatment categories.  Multinomial logistic regression predicted treatment (reference=NSAIDs), adjusting for many variables listed above. RESULTS: NSAID versus non-biologic/biologic DMARD users had higher INA (31.8% vs. 13.3%/15.2%, respectively) and were more frequently African American.  Non-biologic DMARD vs. NSAID and biologic users were more frequently female, with lower overall work impairment (among n=197 employed) and activity impairment (42.1% vs. 56.5% and 51.2%).  Non-biologic DMARD vs. NSAID users had lower CCI and better SF-12v2 component summary and utility scores.  Biologic DMARD, vs. NSAID and non-biologic users, had higher income.  Regression revealed higher odds of INA in NSAID versus non-biologic (278%) and biologic (248%) DMARD users, plus higher odds of insurance in non-biologic (218%) and biologic (252%) users.  For all results listed, p<0.05. CONCLUSIONS: NSAID versus DMARD users had higher INA, perhaps reflecting perceptions of symptom management as an occasional need.  DMARD (especially biologic) users had greater socioeconomic means to access treatment.  Health status and productivity were on average best among non-biologic DMARD users, perhaps reflecting disease-modifying treatments’ relative efficacy plus lower disease severity in non-biologic versus biologic users.