Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease of bone joints that can cause severe pain and swelling. The cartilage around the ends of your bone joints wears away over years of use and leaves the bones rubbing against each other. This can make them inflamed and painful.
Your doctor may ask you to make lifestyle changes such as exercise, losing weight, and changing your eating habits. In addition to those options, there are several medications that may help you. Some are available over the counter, while others need a prescription. They can be pills, creams, lotions, or injections.
Analgesics
These are medicines that relieve pain but don't reduce inflammation. They work to change how your body responds to pain. Popular options include acetaminophen, tramadol, and prescription opioids containing hydrocodone or oxycodone. The opioids can be addictive and are generally avoided.
Your maximum daily dosage of acetaminophen should be 4,000 milligrams (mg) if you don't have any liver disease. Too much can cause liver damage or even death.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
These drugs reduce inflammation and ease pain. These are some of the most popular medications given for arthritis. NSAIDs include aspirin, celecoxib, ibuprofen, and naproxen. They are usually taken in pill form but may cause stomach upset or bleeding. Celecoxib is a type of NSAID called a COX-2 inhibitor, which may be easier on the stomach than other NSAIDs.
Be sure to follow the maximum daily dosage limits for each medication. Some are also available as creams to rub on your joints (for instance, Aspercreme). Some NSAIDs may raise your risk of heart disease or stroke. It's actually recommended that you don't use NSAIDs if you have an ongoing health condition such as heart disease, liver disease, or kidney disease. NSAIDs are non-narcotic and non-addictive.
Counterirritants
These are creams and ointments containing ingredients such as menthol or capsaicin, the ingredient that makes hot peppers burn. Rubbing these on your painful joints may stop the pain signals from reaching the brain.
Glucosamine and chondroitin
These are over-the-counter dietary supplements that are taken by mouth. Study results show no significant benefits, so taking these may or may not help you.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
These are powerful medications (such as cortisone and prednisone) that reduce swelling and suppress the immune system. Your doctor may give you a prescription for a pill or inject it directly at the site of your pain. The effects can be felt in a few days and will last for about two months.
Doctors say you shouldn't get more than three steroid shots a year and you shouldn't stay on them indefinitely. Corticosteroid injections can cause thinning of your bone near the site of the shot, as well as the breakdown of more cartilage.
Hyaluronic acid
This naturally occurs in the fluid of your joints and acts as a lubricant. However, hyaluronic acid breaks down in people who have arthritis, so your doctor may give you injections of this fluid. The doctor injects you at the site of your pain (usually the knee). Getting these injections could be an alternative to taking an NSAID. However, it takes about five weeks to feel any pain relief, unlike cortisol. These injections don't work for everyone and are expensive. You will need to discuss this option with your doctor.
What Are the Latest Medicines for Osteoarthritis?
Although no new treatments have been approved for osteoarthritis recently, researchers continue to seek ways to manage and better understand osteoarthritis pain. Researchers are also looking into the use of biologics and other disease-modifying medicines to stop or slow the progress of cartilage damage in OA.
Takeaways
Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints where the cartilage breaks down from wear and tear, leaving the bones rubbing together. This causes pain and swelling. In addition to lifestyle changes like exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, your doctor may recommend you take a number of medicines to manage OA pain and inflammation. These medicines include analgesics, NSAIDs, steroids, topicals, and more. The treatments may be available as pills, creams, lotions, or injections.
Osteoarthritis Medication FAQs
What is the most prescribed medication for osteoarthritis?
NSAIDs block the enzymes that cause pain and swelling. They are the most effective and commonly used oral medicines for osteoarthritis.
What is the first drug of choice for osteoarthritis?
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is often the first line of defense against mild to moderate osteoarthritis pain.
What is the best vitamin for stiff joints?
Many people with osteoarthritis take glucosamine and chondroitin supplements for their arthritis. But studies are mixed on their effectiveness. Several vitamins play an important role on bone and joint health. Vitamins D and K both are important for bone and cartilage strength.
