by Eve Redstone

Created on: May 07, 2008

One of the most disabling symptoms of arthritis is the pain that accompanies it. Early in the disease it is one of the first symptoms that may come and go, later it can be a constant companion that stops the sufferer from taking part in normal daily activities. Movement increases this pain, but movement is encouraged to maintain mobility. Painkillers are one of the mainstays of treatment and many patients will buy over the counter painkillers in an attempt to treat their symptoms.

Anti-inflammatory drugs are the drugs of choice for many of these patients because the disease causes inflammation in the joints. Several are easily available over the counter. These drugs are good in terms of the pain relief they provide and save trips to the doctor for prescriptions. They do however have problems. Users perceive anti-inflammatory drugs as safe, and they may not report their use to their physician. Anti-inflammatories can cause problems, however.

The best-known side effect of this group of drugs is stomach damage. The risk of ulceration increases with the dose taken and time taken. If patients self medicate for long periods they are at a higher risk of stomach damage. The main symptom is indigestion but some patients, particularly the elderly, may be symptom free until the patient collapses with a burst ulcer. In addition the patients may be a different anti-inflammatory prescribed by the physician, and that will increase the risk of stomach problems. Anti-inflammatories may exacerbate asthma in some people.

There are many reasons why a patient's doctor may refuse to prescribe anti-inflammatories for the patient and it is important that the patient understands these and doesn't just go and buy some. Anti-inflammatories can interfere with other drugs, such as warfarin, or they can cause fluid retention that can cause cardiac problems.

Acetaminophen is probably the most widely available painkiller . It is present in many branded and unbranded forms. It is in many ways the ideal painkiller for arthritis sufferers, but they have to be careful that they are not accidentally over dosing. Because acetaminophen is available in so many different brands it is easy for a patient to take more than one without realizing and this can lead to accidental over dosage and liver damage.

Patients should check with either their physician or pharmacist that the painkiller they are selecting is not going to cause problems with the rest of their medications or their condition.

Alternative painkillers are available and often provide benefit, particularly as they can reduce dependence on prescription drugs. The best known alternatives are glucosamine and chondroitin. Patients using them have been shown to need less traditional painkillers. The same is true of Fish oils.

New on the market are several herbal anti-inflammatories that have been shown to be effective in trials against traditional drugs. These contain combinations of devils claw, cats claw, boswelia and turmeric. Turmeric contains curcumin that has good anti-inflammatory action and has the added advantage that it seems to have healing properties on the stomach.

Over the counter painkillers provide symptom relief for arthritis sufferers, but they should always report what they are taking, both prescription and non-prescription to their doctor and pharmacist so that any interactions or ill effects can be caught before they do damage.

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