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ARTHRITIS DRUGArthritis drug is a broad term which includes different categories of drugs specifically meant for arthritis. Please be warned some of these drugs are now banned due to the side effects and permanent damage they cause to health of the patient. Infact Natural Glucosamine and MSM is perhaps the only safe supplement available.The broad categories of arthritis drug are as follows- • NSAID's….. (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) This is a very old and reliable form of arthritis drug. It can be used to help relieve symptoms in any form of arthritis. All NSAID's have similar actions - they block prostaglandins, which are hormone-like substances that contribute to pain, inflammation, fever and muscle cramps. However, not all NSAID's are alike. They are basically of two types- COX-2 Inhibitors. The newest subset of NSAIDs, the COX-2 inhibitors, helps reduce pain and inflammation like traditional NSAIDs but is designed to be safer for the stomach. Salicylates Many doctors and patients still prefer the oldest category of NSAIDs - the salicylates which includes aspirin. • Analgesics Analgesics are used to achieve a goal of most arthritis treatment plans – pain relief. Although NSAIDs can help decrease both pain and inflammation, the analgesics are designed purely for pain relief. There are various analgesics available in the market today. How ever you must consult your doctor before taking any one. • BRM's……(Biologic Response Modifiers ) Although the BRMs work in different ways, all inhibit proteins called cytokines, which contribute to inflammation. Like any other arthritis drug, BRM has a downside too. For most people, a major drawback is expense. Also, the drugs must be infused intravenously or injected. Researchers say that future agents may be less expensive and will be taken orally. • Corticosteroids Corticosteroids are used in varying dosages to ease damaging inflammation of the joints and organs. It is a very effective arthritis drug. Corticosteroids work quickly to get damaging and painful inflammation under control. Unfortunately, they also carry side effects like brittle bones, cataracts and elevated blood sugar - particularly if they are taken in high doses or for long periods of time. To maximize benefits and minimize side effects, doctors prescribe corticosteroids in doses as low as possible and for as short of a time as possible to get the job done. Your doctor may be able to control inflammation in a few affected joints by injecting a corticosteroid compound directly into your inflamed joint(s). • DMARDs……( Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) This is another arthritis drug which may actually modify the course of inflammatory conditions, slowing or perhaps even stopping their progression. DMARDs are effective, but they take time to show results - another reason to start them early. Giving DMARDs earlier can spare people joint deformities and disability down the road. Doctors often prescribe an additional drug - such as a corticosteroid or an NSAID - to help control pain and inflammation while the DMARD starts to work. DMARDs are most commonly used for RA… (Rheumatoid arthritis). Because DMARDs suppress the immune system, always watch for signs of infection - chills, fever, sore throat or cough - and report them to your doctor. You also should speak with your doctor before getting any vaccinations while you are taking these drugs. • Fibromyalgia Medications Medications used for fibromyalgia are largely different from treatments of other forms of arthritis and related conditions - the goal is to relieve muscle aches, pain and fatigue. One of the most common and debilitating arthritis-related conditions, fibromyalgia also features one of the longest lists of medications used in its treatment. • Osteoporosis Medications Drug options for osteoporosis fall into five categories: estrogens, parathyroid hormones (calcitonin) bisphosphonates (alendronate and risedronate sodium), selective receptor molecules (raloxifene hydrochloride) and the newest category, the bone formation agents (teriparatide). • Gout Medications Gout medications are used to relieve acute pain and inflammation and reduce uric acid in the blood, thereby preventing recurrence of attacks. During acute gout attacks, doctors often prescribe NSAIDs, corticosteroids or an anti-inflammatory medication called colchicine to quickly reduce pain and inflammation. But for long-term treatment, the most useful drugs are those that target the underlying cause: the build-up of crystals in the joint tissue. The above are the most commonly used allopathic arthritis drugs. How ever with time newer and varied forms of alternative arthritis drugs have also come into use. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate are very effective alternatives to a conventionally used arthritis drug. • Glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are substances found naturally in the body. Glucosamine is a form of amino sugar that is believed to play a role in cartilage formation and repair. Chondroitin sulfate is part of a large protein molecule (proteoglycan) that gives cartilage elasticity. Glucosamine stimulates the formation and repair of articular cartilage. Over-the-counter supplements come from animal sources. Chondroitin sulfate prevents other body enzymes from degrading the building blocks of joint cartilage. Both glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are sold as dietary or nutritional supplements. They are extracted from animal tissue: glucosamine from crab, lobster or shrimp shells; and chondroitin sulfate from animal cartilage, such as tracheas or shark cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate provides the structural components of joint cartilage, inhibits free radical enzymes that degrade joint cartilage and collagen, and facilitates the entry of Glucosamine into inflamed joints. Like Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate attracts water into the cartilage matrix and stimulates the production of cartilage. It also has the ability to prevent enzymes from dissolving cartilage. Recent studies have shown extremely good results from long-term treatment with Chondroitin Sulfate (alone and in combination with Glucosamine) in reducing pain and increasing range of motion. Both glucosamine and chondroitin used together, however, will produce the best results. Past studies show that some people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis (OA) taking either glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate reported pain relief at a level similar to that of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Some research indicates that the supplements might also slow cartilage damage in people with OA. Glucosamine is very beneficial in the treatment for arthritis and is backed by numerous double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. In these studies, glucosamine has been shown to rehabilitate cartilage; reduce the progression of osteoarthritis; and significantly lessen pain from arthritis. However, one glucosamine product can be very different from another. Overall, however, there are very few side effects of glucosamine. Glucosamine is very safe in comparison to the side effects of COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex, Vioxx or NSAIDs like Aleve, aspirin, and ibuprofen. There are five main factors that you need to analyze when selecting a glucosamine and chondroitin combination product. These are: • Amount of glucosamine and chondroitin per daily dose • Type of glucosamine • Quality of ingredients • Delivery system • Synergistic ingredients in addition to glucosamine and chondroitin • Price per day The most common side effects are increased intestinal gas and softened stools. How ever there are certain precautions that you must take, they are- • Children, women who are pregnant, and women who could become pregnant should not take these supplements. They have not been studied long enough to determine their effects on a child or on a developing fetus. • Because glucosamine is an amino sugar, people with diabetes should check their blood sugar levels more frequently when taking this supplement. • If you are taking chondroitin sulfate in addition to a blood-thinning medication or daily aspirin therapy, have your blood clotting time checked more often. This supplement is similar in structure to the blood-thinning drug heparin, and the combination may cause bleeding in some people. • If you are allergic to shellfish, consult your doctor before deciding to take glucosamine. In most cases, however, allergies are caused by proteins in shellfish, not chitin, a carbohydrate from which glucosamine is extracted. Human studies have shown that either one may relieve arthritis pain and stiffness with fewer side effects than conventional arthritis drugs. But two problems remain. First, there has not been enough high-quality or long-range research to determine whether their use is practical. Second, because dietary supplement manufacture is not regulated, i.e. Dietary supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are not tested or analyzed by the Food and Drug Administration before they are sold to consumers, hence product quality (especially of chondroitin products) is not assured. Another alternative supplement which is said to work as effectively as any arthritis dug is MSM. • MSM…..( Methylsulfonylmethane) MSM is used for muscle pain. It has shown some clinical evidence that it can be helpful for arthritis and joint pain, but it is usually used in combination with other, more effective joint supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin. MSM, like omega 3 and niacin amide is a synergistic ingredient for arthritis and joint pain, meaning it helps the glucosamine do its job more effectively. MSM might help with muscle pain, but it does nothing for the disease and it will not rebuild damage that has already occurred. Other forms of pain will not be eased by MSM. That is why you need Glucosamine and Chondroitin as well if you are going after muscle, joint or arthritis pain. Compared to glucosamine, there have been fewer MSM studies done. This does not mean it is not helpful for certain conditions, it just means that we need more information and more studies done. When you look at substances to rebuild and reconstitute cartilage, MSM shows little clinical evidence that says it can do that, where as glucosamine simply has a longer track record. MSM might dull some of the pain in the muscles of your body. Therefore it is advised that you use MSM in combination with glucosamine and chondroitin and you will find it to be highly effective as a synergistic ingredient that helps the glucosamine work better and promote faster relief. If you know you are allergic to sulfa drugs, you should note MSM’s organic sulfur form and to be on the safe side, be advised to avoid MSM. |
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