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Arthritis Medications: From OTC Pain Relief to DMARDs

Arthritis is not one disease — it's over 100 conditions affecting joints. The two most common are osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear) and rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease). Treatment approaches differ significantly between them.

For Osteoarthritis: Managing Pain

Osteoarthritis treatment focuses on pain relief and maintaining function:

OTC options:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) — good for mild to moderate pain, easy on the stomach
• Ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) — NSAIDs that reduce inflammation and pain
• Topical diclofenac gel (Voltaren) — applied directly to the joint, less systemic side effects

Prescription NSAIDs:

• Celecoxib (Celebrex) — COX-2 selective, easier on the stomach than traditional NSAIDs
• Meloxicam — once-daily NSAID for moderate to severe arthritis pain

For Rheumatoid Arthritis: Treating the Disease

Rheumatoid arthritis requires a different approach — the goal isn't just pain relief but slowing or stopping joint damage. This is where DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) come in.

Conventional DMARDs:

• Methotrexate — the cornerstone of RA treatment; taken weekly, requires regular blood tests
• Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) — originally an antimalarial, used for mild RA and lupus
• Sulfasalazine — often combined with methotrexate

Biologic DMARDs: Injectable medications like adalimumab (Humira), etanercept (Enbrel), and others target specific parts of the immune system. They're highly effective but expensive and require monitoring for infections.

Corticosteroids: Short-Term Relief

Prednisone and other corticosteroids can rapidly reduce inflammation during flares. They're powerful but have significant side effects with long-term use (bone loss, weight gain, blood sugar changes), so they're generally used short-term or at the lowest effective dose.

Checking Availability

Methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine have both experienced shortages in recent years. Use MedTrack to check stock at pharmacies near you before your prescription runs out.