osteoarthritis drugs

[ilovemarkb]

what are the most popular drugs given to a patient suffering from the above? thanks

[Sqad]

By most popular, you mean the most prescribed?

Probably NSAID's

[ilovemarkb]

thanks sqad. If patient was asthmatic / stomach problems what would an alternative be to NSAID's ?

[Sqad]

Having asthma,stomach problems are not necessarily a contraindication for taking NSAID's

[ilovemarkb]

Lets suppose a patient stressed that she didn't want NSAID's then what alternative could / would her GP prescribe ?

[LoftyLottie]

Interested in this because my rheumatologist has just written to my doctor asking him to consider putting me on a drug I can't remember the name of and which isn't a nsaid but can have some worse side affects. Any ideas Sqad.

Have sent you an email Sqaddy.

[LoftyLottie]

Well I would have sent it, but have mislaid your email address somehow. Can you forward it to me ta.

[ilovemarkb]

HI LOFTY THE FOLLOWING IS TAKEN FROM NICE GUIDELINES"Your GP may offer you paracetamol to ease the pain of your osteoarthritis.
Your GP may also offer you other medicines that are applied to your skin
where it hurts or taken as a tablet to ease the pain. There are several
different types of pain-relieving medicine that your GP can offer (for
example, anti-inflammatory medicines commonly referred to as NSAIDs
and COX-2 inhibitors, or a type of medicine known as an opioid). Your GP
should discuss with you the benefits and risks of taking them, particularly
in combination with other medicines. If you have severe pain, you might
be offered an injection of a medicine called a corticosteroid into the
affected joint." NOT SURE IF THATS ANY HELP.

[LoftyLottie]

Hi Ilovemb, Thanks. I cannot take opiods so perhaps it was Cox-2 she mentioned. I need my pain relief sorted out and also have other problems so drugs have to be 'managed'.

[tearinghair]

I take ketoprofen (NSAID) but need a strong painkiller too, currently remedeine forte. Between them they seem to do the job fairly well.

[ilovemarkb]

thanks guys

[LoftyLottie]

Unfortunately cannot take anything containing codeine tearinghair. I have adverse reactions, including bad hallucinations!!

I take a nsaid (Mobic) and paracetamol which you can combine.

[tearinghair]

That's nasty, LoftyLottie. I can think of a few hallucinations that might be welcome, but it sounds as if yours aren't like that!

[LoftyLottie]

They are awful ilovemb. Vivid and believable and involve spiders crawling over the walls. They first gave me codeine after a caesarian and I seriously believed my baby was in special care and they were keeping him from me. It was only when I told them about the spiders all over the ward, that they stopped the drug. It happened a couple of times since when I was given strong painkillers not realising they involved codeine. I now have a big red cross on my medical notes with a precautionary note!!

[furrypusscat]

I have paracetamol and zydol. Zydol is a prescribed medication and is the dissolvable version of tramadol but I only take them when absolutely necessary and then only at night due to the dizziness they cause.
GP won't prescribe anti inflammatory medication because they make my asthma symptons worse.

[ilovemarkb]

thanks again guys / gals !! very interesting !!

[shaneystar2]

Have had various ones
.Vioxx ( which was withdrawn ) Piroxicam,Meloxicam,Diclofenac ,Tramadol . Co- proxamol ( withdrawn)
I'm convinced these ruddy drugs contributed to the IBS I now suffer from .
I now take 600mg Ibuprofen as and when and do a lot of teeth grtting :)

[shaneystar2]

Oh yes ..and reading back I've also had Cortisone in the elbow and knees .

[ilovemarkb]

arhh Shaney were you ever given Celecoxib ? Was your ulcer referred to as a "venous" leg ulcer?

[LoftyLottie]

I forgot about the cortisone injections, Shaney. Not going to have any more!!

[Sqad]

Sorry have been out for lunch.

Trial of a drug called strontium ranilate have been encouraging and may well be available on the NHS within the net 12 months.

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