Читать книгу Arthritis For Dummies - Barry Fox - Страница 33

When you’re in pain, your joints are hot or swollen, and you can hardly walk from one end of the house to the other, you want relief now. In many cases, the fastest way to relieve arthritis symptoms is to take medication. Arthritis medications fall into five main classes:

 Analgesics: Analgesics are designed specifically to relieve pain, and include acetaminophen (Tylenol) and opioids (narcotics). Sometimes acetaminophen is combined with an opioid, such as codeine. The analgesics differ from anti-inflammatory drugs (such as NSAIDs) in that they do not interfere with the inflammation process, which makes them easier on the stomach and less likely to cause gastrointestinal bleeding.

 Biologics: The biologics treat specific kinds of autoimmune arthritis (like RA) by turning off certain components of the immune system called cytokines. The cytokines play an especially important part in the inflammation seen in RA, and biologics inhibit their inflammatory action. Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, and Kineret are examples of drugs that fall into the category of biologics.

 Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs): The DMARDs are used to treat autoimmune forms of arthritis (like RA, psoriatic arthritis). DMARDs change the way the immune system works, slowing or stopping its attack on the body. Drugs like sulfasalazine, methotrexate, leflunomide, and hydroxychloroquine fall into this category.

 Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): The NSAIDs help relieve pain and reduce inflammation by interfering with an enzyme called COX (cyclooxygenase). The enzyme takes two forms: COX-1 and COX-2. Older, traditional forms of NSAIDs (including aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen) block both forms of the COX enzyme, but newer ones (such as Celebrex) block COX-2 only, as COX-1 has been shown to have a protective effect on the stomach lining. Milder versions (aspirin, ibuprofen) are available over the counter, but the more powerful ones (Indocin, Lodine, Celebrex) require a prescription, especially at higher doses.

 Steroids: Also known as corticosteroids, these are man-made versions of naturally-occurring hormones in the body that help quell inflammation. Although they function as powerful anti-inflammatories, they can also have powerful side effects, including elevated blood pressure, thinning of the bones and skin, weight gain, and an increased risk of infection, even when they are injected directly into the joint.

See Chapter 8 for the complete lowdown on arthritis medications.