What Are Some Of The Drug Treatments For Pain Related To Osteoarthritis?

Dr. Cruciani answers the question: 'Drug Treatments For Osteoarthritis Pain?'

ByABC News
November 19, 2008, 4:23 PM

— -- Question: What are some of the drug treatments for pain related to osteoarthritis?

Answer: There are many drugs that can be utilized to treat pain related to osteoarthritis. What is interesting is to have the notion of how the strategy evolves. So we start with drugs that have a potency that is adequate to control the pain. But if the pain is resilient to treatment, if you don't get better, there are other drugs that can be added on.

So we start with anti-inflammatories, for example acetaminophen. We can go to non-steroidal drugs. And then eventually, if the pain is very intense and the pain doesn't respond to these strategies, we can move on into opioids.

Next: What Is An NSAID And How Is It Used To Treat Pain Resulting From Osteoarthritis?

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