Have you recently been diagnosed with Arthritis by your Riverside Rheumatologist and wondering what to do next?

Actually, this is an exciting time in the treatment of arthritis, following the introduction of several new medications developed to combat joint inflammation and pain, and there are more to come. Many of these medications are safer and more effective than ever before, providing a greater variety of the treatment options for people with arthritis.

Medications for Arthritis Treatment

The way in which Riverside rheumatologists treat arthritis is quite different from what you'd expect. The doctors realize that early and aggressive treatment of arthritis is critical to not only prevent bone and joint damage, but also ensure the best long-term health for the patient. And while medications only account for part of the treatment, they are a crucial part. There are two primary categories of pain medications for arthritis:

Prescription medications for pain

Non-prescription medications are usually adequate to manage arthritis-related pain, but you may need stronger medications. When you're in intense pain, you doctor may prescribe stronger pain medications such as narcotics or NSAIDs.

Narcotics are a king of pain medications that includes items like codeine, morphine, and other opioids. These medications should only be taken under the direct supervision of your treating physician to monitor the side effects, like nausea, drowsiness, dry mouth, and constipation. Since these medications tend to slow down digestion, you should take six to eight glasses (tall) of water throughout the day.

Commonly prescribed narcotics and their brand names are:

* Codeine - Codeine Contin, Tylenol #1, #2, #3
* Morphine - MS-Contin, M-Eslon
* Hydromorphone - Dilaudid, Hydromorph-Contin
* Oxycodone - Oxycontin, Percocet, Percodan
* Meperidine - Demerol
* Fentanyl - Duragesic patches

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are a very large category of medications that do not contain steroids. Some of these medications can be obtained without a prescription, such as ASA (Novasen, Aspirin, Entrophen) and ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil). NSAIDs have no proven long-term benefits for arthritis, though they can be taken as needed to improve the symptoms.

Non prescription medications for pain

These are the pain-controlling medications purchased over-the-counter without a doctor's prescription, and include:

* Acetaminophen - a safe and effective medication for both short and long-term pain relief with a maximum daily recommended dose of 4 grams (4000 mg)
* Ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin) and ASA (Acetylsalicylic acid) - these are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can be purchased over-the-counter.
* Topical medications - there are multiple over-the-counter creams and rubs that help to relieve arthritis symptoms. Some of the common active ingredients used include ASA, menthol, and capsaicin. ASA creams work by reducing pain and inflammation; menthol relieves pain by tricking the body to feel the heat or coolness of the agent; while capsaicin's main way of working is by stopping the transfer of a pain-relaying substance called substance P to the brain.

It is important to note that treating arthritis requires a combination of multiple treatment options as advised by your Riverside rheumatologist. Proper treatment will likely include medications to control the disease and symptoms, and non-medication therapies, like exercise and physiotherapy.