Understand Arthritis Pain Killer Options

There are several different arthritis pain killer options that your doctor may suggest when you are dealing with joint pain. Here are several examples of the types of medications available.

Supplements: The vitamin supplement industry is becoming more and more popular with arthritis sufferers as more people are turning away from prescription medication which can be pricey and come with serious side effects.  The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) shows that more people are using alternative and holistic therapies to treat pain (38% of adults & 12% of kids). Americans are now spending $34 billion on alternative therapies each year.  One arthritis supplement getting a lot of attention right now if Flexcin with CM8. The company announced a 32% increase in sales in 2009 to people who are looking for natural options to treat arthritis and joint pain. There are a variety of supplements on the market and most include ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin. Flexcin’s main ingredient is CM8 (Cetyl Myristoleate) which is a natural compound that relieves joint pain at its source by reducing inflammation and irritation of the joints and tissues.  It works as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. CM8 acts as a lubricant in joints, muscles and other tissues, allowing them to move more smoothly. In addition it is an immune system modulator which can be effective against auto-immune conditions.

NSAIDS: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually abbreviated to NSAIDs  are drugs with analgesic, antipyretic (fever-reducing) and, in higher doses, with anti-inflammatory effects (reducing inflammation). The term "nonsteroidal" is used to distinguish these drugs from steroids. As analgesics, NSAIDs are unusual in that they are non-narcotic. The most prominent members of this group of drugs are aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen partly because they are available over-the-counter in many areas.

Steroids: (short for corticosteroids) are synthetic drugs that closely resemble cortisol, a hormone that your body produces naturally. Steroids work by decreasing inflammation and reducing the activity of the immune system. They are used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases and conditions. Corticosteroids are different from anabolic steroids, which some athletes use to build bigger muscles. Examples of corticosteroid medications include triamcinolone, cortisone, prednisone, and methylprednisolone.

Narcotics: Unlike ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve, or other NSAID drugs, narcotics do not decrease the inflammation that occurs with arthritis. Narcotic drugs work on pain receptors on nerve cells to relieve pain. Often, these pain relievers are combined with acetaminophen. They include:

• Tylenol with Codeine
• Lorcet, Lortab, Vicodin
• Morphine
• OxyContin, Roxicodone
• Percocet
• Darvon
• Darvocet

Biologics: In the last decade, there have been significant advances in treating rheumatoid arthritis, especially for patients whose arthritis does not respond to traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The most important advance has been the development of a group of drugs called biologic response modifiers or biologics. There are a number of biologics approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis. These include:

• Cimzia
• Enbrel
• Humira
• Kineret
• Orencia
• Remicade
• Rituxan
• Simponi

 If you have any questions about the abovekiller options included in this article, ask your doctor. Parts of this article were taken from Web MD.