Arthritis Medication Options

So many people are suffering from arthritis today that medications for arthritis are everywhere. You have many choices not only in brands of medications for arthritis sufferers but in the form of medication that you can take to relieve your arthritis symptoms.

There are many types of arthritis drugs available and they all have benefits and potential for side effects or adverse reactions.

NSAIDs/Cox-2 Inhibitors:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are known as NSAIDs. They are the drugs that are most commonly prescribed for arthritis sufferers. There are 3 types of NSAIDs: salicylates such as aspirin, nonacetylates such as Disalcid, choline magnesium trisalicylate such as Doan’s Pills, and the traditional NSAIDs, and COX-2 selective inhibitors.

The traditional NSAIDs are Flurbiprofen, Diclofenac, Misoprostol, Diclofenac potassium, Sulindac, Oxaprozin, Diflunisal, Piroxicam, Motrin and Advil. Other traditional NSAIDs include, Indomethacin, Orudis, Oruvail, Etodolac, Meclofenamate, Meloxicam, Fenoprofen, Naprosyn, Aleve, Mefanamic Acid, Nabumetone, Tolmetin, and also Dicolfenac Sodium.

COX-2 Inhibitors are Celebrex, Vioxx, and Bextra.

Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) are slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs because they can take weeks or even months before they work. They are effective though in treating rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. These DMARDs can stop disease progression and halt the joint damage caused by the disease. The following medications are DMARDs: Arava, Auranofin, Azulfidine, Mycophenolate, Myochrysine, Cyclosporine, Cytoxan, Imuran, Leukeran, Methotrexate, Minocin, Peniccamine, and also Plaquenil.

Corticosteroids, which are also called, “steroids”, are very potent arthritis drugs because they reduce the swelling and inflammation associated with arthritis. They are used for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, polymyalgia rheumatica, and also vasculitis. They have a potential for serious side effects so doctors prescribe them on a short-term basis.

Popular corticosteroids include Cortisone, Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone, and Prednisone.

Analgesics are pain killers and are also prescribed for the treatment of the pain of arthritis.

Analgesics can be Acetaminophen such as Tylenol or they can be narcotic analgesic drugs such as prescribed for severe pain such as Codeine (Tylenol #3), Darvocet, Darvon, Duragesic, Morphine Sulphate, Percocet, Percodan, and Vicodin.

Arthritis patients sometimes fear taking pain medications because they fear becoming addicted to them.

Pain is something that is commonly experienced when an individual has arthritis. Chronic pain can have an adverse affect on the individual’s quality of life, especially if the pain is mis-managed. There are many methods that can be used to control pain including meditation, relaxation exercises, hypnosis, massage therapy, acupuncture, and exercise. Pain medications do not have to be the only source of pain relief offered to arthritis patients.

Nutrition, topical preparations, herbal remedies, dietary supplements, anti-depressants, muscle relaxants, anti-convulsants, acetaminophen and NSAIDs can all be helpful in alleviating pain in the arthritis patient.

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