Skip the primary navigation if you do not want to read it as the next section.
Primary Navigation
|
Home
|
|
Skip the main content if you do not want to read it as the next section.
Dozens of drugs are used to treat arthritis. They perform different roles from simply relieving pain to reducing inflammation or damping down the disease itself. You may be prescribed one, or a combination of drugs from any of the following types:
Painkillers are used to provide pain relief. They come in different strengths – some can be bought over the counter in shops while stronger ones are prescribed by a doctor. Some anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen can be used as painkillers in low doses.
Always keep to the dose stated on the packet. If in doubt, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
Types include:
Opioid patches are also available although not widely prescribed. Applied to the skin, the slow release pain killing effects last between three and seven days.
The popular drug co-proxomal is being gradually withdrawn following overdosing concerns.
NSAIDs reduce inflammation and joint swelling as well as providing some pain relief. Taken over a long time they can cause stomach problems and other side effects.
You can help minimise this by:
asking your doctor about taking anti-ulcer drugs
Types of NSAIDs include:
Cox-2 inhibitors are a newer type of NSAID, designed to be safer for the stomach.
They include:
Concerns have been raised about their side effects, including increased risk of cardiovascular problems, especially for people with a history of heart disease or stroke. You will need to discuss with your doctor whether this type of treatment is suitable for you.
Steroids are manufactured versions of the body’s natural hormones and can be very effective in reducing inflammation. Taken long-term, they can also cause side effects and osteoporosis. Your doctor will try to give you the lowest possible effective dose and you will be carefully monitored. Never stop taking steroids suddenly.
Steroids can also be given by injection into an inflamed joint. Used this way they don’t cause the same side effects.
Types include:
The Department of Health recommends that all people taking steroid tablets and immunosuppressants (see below) should have yearly flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) treat forms of inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
This family of drugs includes immunosuppressants which damp down the activity of the immune system. DMARDs slow the disease’s progress and reduce the amount of damage it does – so they’re usually used soon after diagnosis.
They can have serious side effects, so you will be carefully monitored.
Types include:
Anti-TNFs work by blocking the action of a chemical called tumour necrosis factor (TNF). TNF is thought to play an important role in driving the inflammation and tissue damage in certain kinds of inflammatory arthritis.
They are not free of side effects and aren’t suitable for everyone, but they can offer new hope to people with severe rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis who have not been helped by older disease-modifying drugs. Anti-TNFs are often taken in conjunction with methotrexate.
Strict guidelines have to be followed in assessing who is eligible. Ask your rheumatologist whether you could be a suitable candidate.
For more specific information on particular drugs, take a look at Arthritis Care’s information booklet, Drugs and Complementary Therapies , contact the Arthritis Care Helpline, or speak to your doctor.
The following page sections include static unchanging site components such as the page banner, useful links and copyright information. Return to the top of page if you want to start again.
End of page. You can return to the page content navigation from here.