Common Arthritis Drugs And Treatments

There are five basic forms of arthritis drug treatments, and it is usually one, or any combination of these five drugs that will be used as a treatment that is prescribed for the arthritis sufferer. These are Analgesics, Nonsteroidal medications or NSAIDs, Steroids, Antirheumatic drugs or DMARDS, and biological response modifiers.

The three most common forms of treatment for Arthritis are Analgesics, Nonsteroidal medications or NSAIDs, and Steroids.

Analgesics are a drug which is used specifically for arthritis pain relief, unlike Nsaids which focus on decreasing pain, fever and inflammation, analgesics are used only for the relief of pain.

Nonsteroidal treatments or NSAIDs as they are most commonly known, work to reduce pain, fever and inflammation, COX-2 Inhibitors fall into this drug category and act much like the typical NSAID, but these are generally a drug group that is much gentler on the stomach. Salicylate acid which derived its name from the willow tree is another nonsteroidal treatment. It can actually be obtained from the bark of a willow tree, and is commonly found at your drugstore under the label of acetylsalicylic acid, or ASA.

Corticosteroids, or Steroids as they are more commonly known as, are a powerful drug therapy used to rapidly reduce inflammation within the joints or organs.

Antirheumatic drugs or DMARDS are disease modifying drugs generally used in the treatment of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or myositis. These drugs can be used to suppress the immune system of the afflicted person, this way the disease progress itself can be slowed, or in some cases even brought to a complete state of remission.

Biological response modifiers are agents that are introduced into the human body to provoke a specific response mechanism from the body against a specific illness. These were first used in Rheumatoid arthritis patients who did not respond to traditional therapies.

Some drugs are disease specific as are those for Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that is generally injury or age related and occurs as the cartilage within the joints breaks down over the course of time.

Although Osteoarthritis is an almost natural part of the aging process it can occur much earlier in life because of obesity or repetitive stress on the joints. Most people over the age of sixty will generally begin to experience some degree of this form of arthritis. Osteoarthritic drug treatments are generally used to reduce bone fractures or bone loss, or to promote new bone growth.

For women hormone replacement therapy may be useful to help maintain bone thickness. This hormone treatment helps stop bone loss because as a woman's ages and she enters menopause her estrogen levels drop, and without the protective qualities of estrogen within her system, her natural bone loss unfortunately increases.

Bisphosphonates are another Osteoarthritis drug which may be used to slow the course of the disease, by slowing down the natural processes that destroy bone tissue. Bone formation agents and selective receptor molecules are other forms of treatment for this common form of arthritis.

Gout is another form of arthritis that requires specific drug and diet therapy treatment. Gout is characterized by a build up of uric acid crystals within the joints and is one form of Arthritis that responds very well to treatment.

People who develop Gout may actually have a genetic predisposition to develop the illness.

Gout medications are generally used to reduce the amount of uric acid produced, to alleviate pain, and to reduce inflammation.

Painkillers are often prescribed to help alleviate the chronic pain that accompanies most types of arthritis. Most forms of the disease at some point in time will also be treated with a drug course that involves the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, nsaids, or immune suppressants to slow down the course of the illness.

Incorporating range of motion or cardiovascular exercise, alternating periods of rest and activity or other lifestyle changes, using aides or braces, changing one's diet, or using natural therapies plans combined with current treatments can also greatly increase the health of people with arthritis.

Ginger, Omega-3 fatty acids, Green tea, Cherries and Blueberries, as well as Vitamin B-12 are all natural diet supplements that contain properties that may aid in the treatment of inflammation.

Diets high in antioxidants may slow the course or the very development of these inflammatory illnesses.

It is believed that some cases of Rheumatoid arthritis may be an immune system response by the body to a specific food allergy. If you suspect that this may be the cause of your illness then an elimination diet may be able to determine this. Eliminating the offending food for a period of three to four weeks, should relieve the symptoms of your illness, if it is the root cause of your illness.

With there being over 100 forms of arthritis, be sure to research your condition, as well as any and all treatments for it. Where Arthritis is concerned knowledge is power. Discover everything that you can about your illness so you have the power to control it.

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The human body is capable of curing itself. There have been hints of the body's extraordinary healing power throughout history. Spontaneous remissions, people who suddenly walk or see again, these miracles have happened in the past and they can definitely occur again in the future. We all have the power within ourselves. We just have to learn how to apply it.

The human immune system is an amazing protective force. It is constantly on the alert for any danger to the body, and ready to attack bacteria or other foreign matter, at a moments notice. Unfortunately the effects of physical and emotional stress, pollutants, and abuse can all take a toll......Read Full Article.

http://arthritis.about.com/

http://www.arthritis.com/

http://www.arthritis.org/

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/arthritis.html

http://www.medicinenet.com/arthritis/article.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphosphonate

http://www.brighamandwomens.org/patient/osteoarthritis.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disease-modifying_antirheumatic_drug