Pain Relief Medicine for Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, it’s important to know about the different types of pain relief medications.

One of the most basic principles of managing rheumatoid arthritis is also the most obvious: Treat the pain!

There are many effective pain medicines your doctor could choose from. Unlike DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs), these medicines don't slow down the joint damage that rheumatoid arthritis can cause. However, they do make living with rheumatoid arthritis easier.

Here's what you should know about some of the more common pain medicines and anti-inflammatories prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs are the cornerstone of pain management for rheumatoid arthritis. They are effective in managing pain, swelling, and stiffness. NSAIDs work by stopping the production of some of the chemicals that cause pain (prostaglandins). They are classified as "selective" versus "non-selective," based on how they work.

Examples of non-selective NSAIDs are:

• Diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam)
• Etodolac (Lodine)
• Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
• Indomethacin (Indocin)
• Meloxicam (Mobic)
• Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)

The main drawback of NSAIDs is their potential to cause ulcers or bleeding in the stomach or intestines. Taking a proton-pump inhibitor -- a drug that reduces the production of acid in the stomach -- can reduce this risk. NSAIDs also often cause general stomach upset or discomfort.

NSAIDs can also cause problems if you already have kidney failure or heart failure. A doctor should follow closely if you have these conditions and are taking NSAIDs.

Selective NSAIDs (Celebrex, Arcoxia)

These medicines are NSAIDs but have a somewhat lower risk of ulcers and stomach or intestinal bleeding. They relieve pain as well as non-selective NSAIDs.

In 2004 and 2005, two selective NSAIDs, Vioxx and Bextra, were taken off the market by their manufacturers. This was done because in some studies, people seemed to develop heart attacks and strokes slightly more often when taking these drugs. Celebrex at doses used to treat arthritis (200 milligrams per day) did not have this association and is still available.

Selective NSAIDs are probably best used by a person with a high risk for gastrointestinal bleeding who also needs to take pain medicine frequently.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Acetaminophen is a well-known over-the-counter drug. Its main advantage is its safety. When taken as directed, it has no side effects in most people. The exception is people with liver disease, who can take acetaminophen only under close supervision by a doctor.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are powerful drugs that can stop inflammation in its tracks. These are different from anabolic steroids like testosterone, which cause muscle growth. Corticosteroids act throughout the body with various widespread effects. In rheumatoid arthritis, the benefit of corticosteroids is their suppression of the overactive immune system, which reduces symptoms and disease activity.

Because corticosteroids act everywhere, not just on the immune system, they are ideally used for short bursts to control flares. This helps avoid their side effects. If you have severe rheumatoid arthritis, you may need to take corticosteroids for long periods. Your doctor will help you watch out for potential problems of long-term steroid use. These include increased susceptibility to infection, increased blood sugar (diabetes), or thinning of your bones (osteoporosis).

Corticosteroids can also sometimes be injected directly into joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis. This is a great way to get the benefits of the medicine without as many of the side effects.