Arthritis treatment drugs

Since there are many different types of the disease we know commonly as arthritis, there are a limitless number of drugs that can help to aid the pain and inflammation associated with the disease. In this article, we'll discuss some of the basic types of medications that are available to help treat arthritis so that you can be more properly informed about the possible solutions to your arthritic problem.

One of the most commonly prescribed types of drugs for arthritis are known as NSAIDS. NSAIDS stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs are used to keep the inflammation of the area affected by arthritis to a minimum, allowing for a decrease in pain and stiffness, and possibly giving the joint a slightly longer range of motion. Commonly used NSAIDS include such household drugs as simple aspirin, ibuprofen, and celebrex.
Another type of drug that is often prescribed in order to help treat arthritic problems is known as DMARDS. Standing for disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, these compounds act slowly with their effects on arthritis building up after a few weeks.

These drugs can help to stop the progression of such arthritis types as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Using the DMARDS for a long period of time can cause a ceasing of damage to the affected joint, and they are a great option for those with rheumatoid arthritis.

Corticosteroids represent another type of drug that is used by arthritis patients. These drugs work by reducing swelling and inflammation in those with arthritis, leading to pain relief and a loosening of the stiff joint. Corticosteroids are most often used to stop inflammation in joints and organs that may be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and vasculitis. Since these drugs are steroidal, and very similar to a compound produced in the adrenal glands, dosage varies from case to case. If used over a long period of time or in too high of doses, corticosteroids have been determined to lead to long term problems.

Since the pain associated with arthritis can be so great, many arthritis sufferers resort to pain medications to help curb the agony. Referred to in the medical field as analgesics, substances such as Tylenol, codeine, darvocet, percocet, and vicodin are often prescribed when the pain of arthritis gets to be too much for a patient. Analgesics work like NSAIDS, but they do not help to curb inflammation.

One class of medication that is rather unique in terms of usage for arthritis is known as a Biologic Response Modifier, or BRM. This type of drugs is not synthesized in a lab, and is instead taken from living sources to help treat particular aspects of arthritis. There are numerous BRMs available, and they can help arthritis patients to cope by decreasing inflammation, blocking the harmful affects of rheumatoid arthritis via a special type of protein, and increasing the body's T-cells.

When beginning a regimen of drugs to help treat arthritis, it's important to let your doctor know about any other medications that you may bet aking. Using different drugs in tandem can decrease their efficiency to a great degree, so it's important to be sure that your medications work properly.