Generally, the goal is to reduce the inflammation and swelling of the affected joint, thereby preventing further damage and reducing the pain. Most arthritis medications fall into three categories:
- Those that relieve pain.
- Those that reduce inflammation or the body process that causes swelling, warmth, and redness.
- Those that slow the disease process and limit further damage to the joints.
For a fortunate few, an over the counter painkiller such as Tylenol, Datril, or Anacin-3 is all they need to control their arthritis pain. The cheapest of your choices for pain relief, these drugs are ideal for mild to moderate pain. However, they do not relieve inflammation and may increase the risk of liver problems, especially in heavy alcohol drinkers.
For the vast majority of arthritis sufferers, however, the pain is simply too intense and too debilitating. The most commonly prescribed category of drugs for arthritis is known as and NSAIDS. NSAIDS stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
These drugs used for moderate to severe arthritis pain and keep the inflammation of the area affected by arthritis to a minimum, allowing for a decrease in pain and stiffness, and possibly giving the joint a slightly greater range of motion. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and dyspepsia. Some NSAIDs may interfere with other medications or aggravate existing conditions, so consult your doctor before taking any.
COX-2 Inhibitors. These are a new class of NSAIDs that cause fewer side effects. They are usually more expensive, but are generally considered safer than other NSAIDs. Celebrex is probably the best- known in this category of drugs. The next most common arthritis treatment is the use of a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). This category includes several unrelated medications intended to slow or stop the progression of the disease and prevent disability and discomfort. DMARDs include Rheumatrex (methotrexate), Azulfidine (sulfasalazine), and Arava (leflunomide).
Corticosteroids do not relieve arthritis pain, but reduce the symptoms that aggravate it, such as heat and inflammation. They are commonly used for treating severe osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis pain. These work by reducing swelling and inflammation. Since corticosteroids are steroidal, and very similar to a compound produced in the adrenal glands, dosage varies from case to case. If used over a long period of time or in too high of doses, corticosteroids have been determined to lead to long term problems such as brittle bones, cataracts, elevated blood sugar, and an increased susceptibility to infections throughout the body.
Opioids include strong analgesics such as morphine, codeine, oxycodone, and meperidine. They work well of severe, acute arthritis pain, but are seldom prescribed because they can be addictive. Narcotic analgesics are either strong analgesics or a combination of weak and strong ones, such as acetaminophen and codeine. They are used to relieve severe pain, particularly when over-the-counter analgesics do not work.
They are best used for short-term treatment, as they can cause serious side effects when taken regularly. Topical analgesics refer to external applications such as creams, oils and ointments. Because they are applied only on the affected area, there is lower risk of side effects. However, the relief is usually short-lived. They work for specific types of arthritis pain, such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis attacks.
