Regular Over-The-Counter Drugs Or Aspirin Are Not Going To Help As Well As You Hope...

Find Out Which Drugs Work Better For Your Type Of Arthritis
While there is currently no cure for arthritis, modern medicine has made advances in recent years to help prevent joint damage. There are many medicines available to help with arthritis. The problem is understanding your options. Below are eight different types of drug categories that are used to treat arthritis.

1. NSAIDs
 2. Analgesics
 3. Biologic Response Modifiers
 4. Glucocorticoids
 5. DMARDs
 6. Osteoporosis Medications
 7. Fibromyalgia Medications
 8. Gout Medications

NSAIDs- This is the most widely used class of drugs for arthritis. NSAIDs can be used to help relieve symptoms in any form of arthritis in which inflammation or pain is a factor. In other words, just about all of them. Click here to view a chart of different types of drugs and their side effects.


Analgesics- These drugs are primarily designed for pain relief. Unlike NSAIDs, analgesics don't work the same way against inflammation. Click here to view a chart of different types of drugs and their side effects.

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Biologic Response Modifiers- These drugs target specific parts of the immune system to slow the progression of joint damage in the body. There are proteins in the body called cytokines that promote inflammation in joints. By blocking cytokines, biologic response modifiers help reduce pain and inflammation. Click here to view a chart of different types of drugs and their side effects.

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Glucocorticoids- These drugs are powerful anti-inflammatories that help reduce pain and swelling in joints. Click here to view a chart of different types of drugs and their side effects.

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DMARDs- Disease-modifying arti-rheumatic drugs change the course of inflammatory conditions. DMARDs target the cells in the immune system causing inflammation and joint destruction but usually do it over a period of weeks or months. Click here to view a chart of different types of drugs and their side effects.

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Osteoporosis Medications- Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to break easily. This leads to fractures and agonizing pain. Osteoporosis is most common in postmenopausal women. Medications are available to help rebuild bone and relieve pain. Click here to view a chart of different types of drugs and their side effects.

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Fibromyalgia Medications- Unlike most arthritic diseases, fibromyalgia does not cause inflammation in joints, but causes muscle aches, widespread pain, and fatigue. These medications are used to treat fibromyalgia. Click here to view a chart of different types of drugs and their side effects.

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Gout Medications- Gout is a form of arthritis in which uric acid deposits in the joints causing pain. These medications help regulate the amount of uric acid your body produces to stop the formation of these deposits. Click here to view a chart of different types of drugs and their side effects.
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Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland
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