What Is Osteoarthritis?
8. Pharmacologic Treatment
Acetaminophen can be used for mild to moderate osteoarthritic pain. For those that do not respond, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium can be used. The lowest dose should be given. Patients with highly resistant pain may be given tramadol.
Other medications used for pain include celecoxib and hydroxychloroquine. Duloxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that has been found to be effective for the treatment of osteoarthritic pain. Intraarticular injections using a corticosteroid, biologic agent, or sodium hyaluronate have also been found to have an anti-inflammatory effect and provide pain relief. Additional pharmacologic agents used include muscle relaxants, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
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