Arthritis Medications : Know your pain relieving drugs
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Arthritis drugs have long been considered the "traditional" treatment option.
Since individual response to drugs can vary and because potential side effects
and adverse reactions are also a factor, finding the most effective combination
of arthritis drugs can be a more difficult process than one would expect.
Patients should become knowledgeable about the various arthritis drugs so
they can make decisions with their doctor.
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.
Consumers should also know that there is a potential for gastrointestinal
bleeding associated with the use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
The risk for bleeding is low for those who take these products intermittently.
For those who take the products on a daily or regular basis, the risk is
increased, particularly for those over 65 years of age or those who take
corticosteroids (such as prednisone). Those who use hormone therapy
(estrogens and progestins) for post-menopausal symptoms or birth control do
not have an increased risk for bleeding.
In addition, consumers should ask health care providers about NSAID use if
they have kidney disease or are taking diuretics (fluid pills).
Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
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
Analgesics are pain killers and are also prescribed for the treatment of the
pain of arthritis. Controlling pain is a vital part of treating arthritis. However,
unlike NSAIDs, analgesics do not relieve inflammation.
Paracetamal (Tylenol) is the most commonly used analgesic. Narcotic
analgesic drugs can also be prescribed for more severe pain.
If you're taking a prescription pain medicine, check with your doctor first before
taking OTC acetaminophen. The prescription pain medicine may contain
acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is also available in combination with other
OTC drug ingredients. So, you need to check the labels of other OTC drug
products for the ingredient. In some cases of accidental acetaminophen
overdose, it appears that consumers used two or more acetaminophen-
containing products at the same time.
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.
======================================================
Since individual response to drugs can vary and because potential side effects
and adverse reactions are also a factor, finding the most effective combination
of arthritis drugs can be a more difficult process than one would expect.
Patients should become knowledgeable about the various arthritis drugs so
they can make decisions with their doctor.
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.
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.
Consumers should also know that there is a potential for gastrointestinal
bleeding associated with the use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
The risk for bleeding is low for those who take these products intermittently.
For those who take the products on a daily or regular basis, the risk is
increased, particularly for those over 65 years of age or those who take
corticosteroids (such as prednisone). Those who use hormone therapy
(estrogens and progestins) for post-menopausal symptoms or birth control do
not have an increased risk for bleeding.
In addition, consumers should ask health care providers about NSAID use if
they have kidney disease or are taking diuretics (fluid pills).
Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
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
Analgesics are pain killers and are also prescribed for the treatment of the
pain of arthritis. Controlling pain is a vital part of treating arthritis. However,
unlike NSAIDs, analgesics do not relieve inflammation.
Paracetamal (Tylenol) is the most commonly used analgesic. Narcotic
analgesic drugs can also be prescribed for more severe pain.
If you're taking a prescription pain medicine, check with your doctor first before
taking OTC acetaminophen. The prescription pain medicine may contain
acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is also available in combination with other
OTC drug ingredients. So, you need to check the labels of other OTC drug
products for the ingredient. In some cases of accidental acetaminophen
overdose, it appears that consumers used two or more acetaminophen-
containing products at the same time.
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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