Arthritis Medications

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Arthritis medications serve to provide several functions. Some are meant to relieve pain, protect and preserve joint integrity and lastly to prevent the arthritis for getting any worse. Medications for arthritis include NSAIDS or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-rheumatic medications and corticosteroids. The majority of people that suffer from arthritis pain simply go to the local drug store and purchase acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin®) since their use does not require a prescription and there is no problem with availability.

For those that seek more specific arthritis medications the first choice is usually the NSAIDS. These drugs are also further separated into two categories, the conventional and the COX-2 inhibitors. Originally the Cox-2 inhibitors were designed to reduce the side effects associated with the long term use from the conventional arthritis medications. Some still boast of their benefits and you can read about the other side effects here. Celebrex (celecoxib) and Vioxx (rofecoxib).

Corticosteroids have been used successfully for treating arthritis pain for almost 50 years. These arthritis medications reduce pain by lessening the inflammation in the joints. Some say that these methods have the less adverse reactions. To my understanding, more than 4 injections per year can actually further degrade the joints integrity due to the catabolic nature of the injection. This is pure conjecture on my part as I am not a doctor.

DMARDS or disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs are used mostly to try to prevent the arthritis from getting any worse. At present, this sort of treatment is regarded as the best course of treatment in the field of arthritis medications according to the most recent research that I have read. This is due preventing more damage from the arthritis and not because of less side effects.

The last category of arthritis medications are called biologics. These as with the other drugs strive to reduce inflammation and prevent further progression of joint damage from arthritis . The benefit these latest medications have is their speed of effectiveness, showing improvement in conditions in as little as a few days. The drawback besides their newness is the expense of treatment with annual treatments of this arthritis medication costing $12,500 US.