GENERAL ARTHRITIS MEDICATION

General Arthritis Medication

A variety of medications are used for treating the general arthritis. The type of medication used by a person depends on the individual’s medical history and on the specific condition.

The medications which are used in treating arthritis are not a cure but they only reduce the symptoms and control the negative effects of the arthritis. Sometimes, they cause relief to the person or prevent the joints from any damage. There are various medications used to treat the general arthritis and they are:-

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – These drugs are given to the arthritis patient according to the weight and height of the person. These drugs are useful in reducing swelling and pain in the joints. The drugs include:-

Ibuprofen – This drug which is a liquid preparation is given to the children aged 1-2 years old in 3 to 4 doses and reduces fever.

Naproxen – This drug is given to the children of age four and given only twice which lasts for a longer time in the body.

Junifen – This drug is a sugar-free preparation and given to more than one year old child who suffers from mild to moderate pain. It already contains ibuprofen.

Diclofenac – This drug is a 50mg dispersible tablet which is given to 9-10 years old child and helps to reduce pain and fever, morning stiffness in children.

Cortocosteroids – These drugs are given by mouth or injection to the children which reduce severe inflammation. Sometimes these drugs are directly injected into the joints which are of great value to the arthritis patient. These drugs are also given when the patient of arthritis has one or two joints affected or there is severe pain in the joints. These drugs include:-

Prednisone – It is an oral corticosteroid and an anti-inflammatory agent which consists of high doses and given more than once. These drugs have side effects also like there are more chances of infection such as chicken pox. The high dose of prednisone is given to the child for long term which makes the child round faced.

Deflazacort – If this drug is given in moderate dose then it will not cause thinning of the bones and growth factor is also not harmed.

Slow-Acting drugs – These drugs include DMARDs which reduces the overall activity of the general arthritis. Some of the slow acting drugs are:-

Sulphasalazine – It mostly occur in boys where arthritis starts first with a few joints and later on spreads to other joints.

There are many other drugs also such as Methotrexate, Cyclosporin A and Anti-malarial drugs etc.