MONDAY, April 17, 2023 -- Arthritis is a common disease that causes pain and inflammation in different body joints, making it difficult to enjoy everyday tasks and physical activity. Fortunately, there are many different medications for arthritis. Depending on what type of arthritis you have and its severity, an arthritis medication may help you manage pain and other symptoms. Here is a breakdown of the most common arthritis medications, how they work and their potential side effects. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) including biologics and targeted DMARDs
The Arthritis Foundation reports that analgesics may help with mild to moderate pain, but they will not help with the inflammation associated with arthritis. Analgesics work in the nervous system and alter how your brain perceives pain. They can be used to treat the pain associated with any type of arthritis, although more effective options are available. Analgesics can be opioid, non-opioid or a combination. Use caution when taking these medications; take only as prescribed.
Common over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs are: Aspirin (Bayer, St. Joseph, Anacin, Excedrin and more) Potential side effects of NSAIDs are: Hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocort)
Common side effects of corticosteroids:
The Arthritis Foundation says that DMARDs work with the body to “stop or slow the disease process in inflammatory forms of arthritis.” They work by blocking inflammation. There are many different DMARDs on the market, and they all have different ways of working in the body. Conventional DMARDs work by broadly suppressing the immune system. Often they are used in combination with other therapies.
Targeted DMARDs block specific pathways inside immune cells.
Biologic DMARDs are produced by live cells and work on specific immune proteins called cytokines. According to the Cleveland Clinic, common side effects of traditional DMARDs include: Increased cholesterol levels, increased liver enzymes and low blood cell counts
Increased risk of clotting
When prescribed DMARDs, inform your doctor of any other medications, including over-the-counter medicines, you are taking to avoid drug interactions. Some of these medications can cause teratogenicity (defects in a developing fetus.)
Writing recently in the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (JAAPA), physician assistant Michelle DiBiase and Dr. Samantha Kohn remind people that "The mainstay of pharmacologic therapy is early intervention with use of nonbiologic and biologic DMARDs together with adjunctive medications such as NSAIDs, oral and intra-articular corticosteroids, and analgesic medications, including opioids." Your primary care provider or rheumatologist will work closely with you to determine which medications are best for your treatment. It is vital to keep them apprised of any side effects and let them know if the treatment is ineffective. They can work with you to find a treatment that helps relieve the pain and inflammation caused by arthritis.