What Is the Best Arthritis Pain Reliever?

In most cases, someone using an arthritis pain reliever in the form of recognized drugs only gets short-term pain relief. Nevertheless, experts have developed certain dietary supplements using the advances treatment of the illness, to provide long-lasting pain relief. Medical experts normally give anti-inflammatory drugs to patients suffering from joint inflammation especially in cases of rheumatoid arthritis. These drugs have been categorized into two groups as either the steroid kind or non-steroidal kind of anti-inflammatory drug. There are significant differences between the two categories. Understanding these drugs better can lead to effective treatment or management of arthritis.

Anti-inflammatory drugs that are non-steroidal in nature much more generally known as NSAIDs are probably the most widespread type of medication for treating arthritis. One can get these drugs through a doctor's prescription but they are also available over the counter. Common examples of these anti-inflammatory drugs are ibuprofen, diclofenac and aspirin, which act fast as effective pain relievers. Over thirty drugs that fall under the class of NSAID are in use. Every drug has a different chemical structure that works as an arthritis pain reliever, and react differently to different people. It is best for a patient to visit a doctor to get an appropriate pain reliever for his or her particular situation.

Nevertheless, medical professionals have discovered that long term use of anti-inflammatory medicine that is non-steroidal in nature causes various side effects. One of these effects is stomach irritation that could further cause allergic reactions, vomiting, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, gas formation and even miscarriage in pregnant women. Aspirin, which is the most cost effective NSAID that people commonly use to relief arthritic pain has been known to cause many side effects, such that most medical experts now want its use to be reviewed. In the meantime, majority of people are still using this drug.

The most potent anti-inflammatory drugs are Corticosteroids. These cortisone-based drugs are life savers when it comes to asthma attacks. Even so, the only offer short-term relief when used as arthritis pain medication, and they have to be given in high doses. Mostly, medical experts prescribe these drugs to patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups in the swollen and red-hot joint. Since there are various side effects of using these drugs, patients resort to them only as the last option. In addition, because the drugs have to be given in high dosage to be effective, using them for long-term treatment might trigger tolerance or dependence. Some of the negative effects of the drugs are glaucoma, osteoporosis, weight acquire, high blood pressure, cataracts, stomach irritation or bleeding and frequent infections.