Arthritis Medication Options
Arthritis medications vary depending on the type of arthritis and its severity. Here are the main categories of medications used to manage arthritis:
1. Pain Relievers (Analgesics)
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) – Helps with pain but does not reduce inflammation.
- Opioids (e.g., Tramadol, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone) – Prescribed for severe pain when other medications are ineffective.
2. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
- Over-the-counter NSAIDs – Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Naproxen (Aleve)
- Prescription NSAIDs – Diclofenac, Celecoxib (Celebrex)
- Reduce pain and inflammation but can have gastrointestinal and cardiovascular risks.
3. Corticosteroids (Steroids)
- Prednisone, Methylprednisolone – Powerful anti-inflammatory drugs, usually for short-term use due to potential side effects like osteoporosis and weight gain.
- Available as oral medications, injections, or intravenous infusions.
4. Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
- Methotrexate – The most commonly used DMARD for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
- Leflunomide, Sulfasalazine, Hydroxychloroquine – Used for inflammatory types of arthritis like RA and psoriatic arthritis.
- Slow down disease progression and prevent joint damage.
5. Biologic Response Modifiers (Biologics)
- Target specific parts of the immune system to reduce inflammation and slow disease progression.
- Examples:
- TNF inhibitors – Adalimumab (Humira), Etanercept (Enbrel), Infliximab (Remicade)
- IL-6 inhibitors – Tocilizumab (Actemra)
- B-cell therapy – Rituximab (Rituxan)
- T-cell inhibitors – Abatacept (Orencia)
- IL-17/IL-23 inhibitors – Secukinumab (Cosentyx), Ustekinumab (Stelara)
6. Janus Kinase (JAK) Inhibitors
- Tofacitinib (Xeljanz), Baricitinib (Olumiant), Upadacitinib (Rinvoq) – Oral medications that target specific pathways involved in inflammation.
7. Topical Medications
- Capsaicin Cream, Diclofenac Gel (Voltaren), Lidocaine Patches – Used for localized arthritis pain, especially in osteoarthritis.
8. Other Treatments
- Colchicine – Used for gout-related arthritis.
- Hyaluronic Acid Injections – Sometimes used for knee osteoarthritis to improve joint lubrication.
