| There are various types of medicines can help control | | | | and infliximib (Remicade).o Antidepressants are |
| the pain and swelling of joints in Rhumatoid arthritis | | | | typically prescribed for the chronic pain of fibromyalgia |
| (Rheumatoid). Doctors recommend medications | | | | rather than for arthritis. They work by blocking pain |
| depending on type of arthritis, the degree to which the | | | | hormones in the brain. They are sometimes used with |
| joints have been affected and how much pain is | | | | patients to break out of depression cycle. |
| experienced as well as other factors. There are | | | | Antidepressants also can help improve sleep quality, |
| various classes of medicines, most of them falling | | | | which in turn may help reduce pain. The doses used to |
| under one of the followingo Analgesics: They are | | | | treat pain and sleep problems are usually lower than |
| drugs to relieve pain but not inflammation. They are | | | | those used for depression.o Topical pain relievers |
| generally used if there is allergy to aspirin. | | | | include creams, rubs and sprays that are applied to the |
| Acetaminophen is one example of an analgesic. It is | | | | skin over a painful muscle or joint. Some topical pain |
| available without a prescription.o Nonsteroidal | | | | relievers contain combinations of salicylates , skin |
| anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) : are used to combat | | | | irritants and local anesthetics that relieve pain . |
| joint pain, stiffness and swelling. NSAIDs work by | | | | Salicylates work by making nerve endings in the skin |
| blocking the production of prostaglandins in the body , | | | | unresponsive to pain.o Narcotics and other strong |
| which are substances that send pain messages to the | | | | painkillers are sometimes prescribed for short-term and |
| brain. Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen | | | | intense pain. Morphine and codeine reduce pain by |
| and naproxen sodium. Other NSAIDs are available by | | | | blocking pain signals that are traveling to the brain.o |
| prescription only. NSAIDs should be used under doctor | | | | Tranquilizers can be helpful in reducing painful muscle |
| supervision only and can cause the side effect of | | | | tension and spasms in some types of arthritis or its |
| stomach upset.o Glucocorticoids: are drugs that relieve | | | | related conditions. However, these drugs have to be |
| pain by reducing swelling and inflammation in the | | | | used very carefully as they can be addictive if they |
| affected joint. These drugs are related to a hormone | | | | are used for a long period of time.o Nerve blocks are |
| found in the body à cortisol. Glucocorticoid | | | | anesthetic drugs injections, administered directly into |
| injections must be monitored carefully; side effects can | | | | the nerves of the painful area. They can help relieve |
| occur if you receive injections too frequently.o | | | | nerve, tendon, and ligament and muscle pain. Yet nerve |
| Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) : | | | | blocks are not as effective for long-lasting pain |
| The main function of DMARD's is to reduce | | | | because they work only for a limited period of time. |
| inflammation, slow down and suppress the immune | | | | They may also cause temporary muscle weakness |
| system, but these drugs also help relieve pain. The | | | | and numbness near the painful area. |
| effects of these drugs may take several weeks or | | | | After reviewing many of these options, you may find it |
| months to become tangible in nature. Examples of | | | | beneficial to also examine some natural options for |
| DMARDs include methotrexate, hydroxycholorquine, | | | | dealing with your arthritis and a sufferer myself, I have |
| azulfdine and lefunomide.o Biologic response modifiers | | | | found these to be a useful complement. With some |
| (BRMs): These are also known as biologic agents and | | | | trial and error they can begin to replace many of the |
| are used to suppress arthritis inflammation. Food and | | | | more conventional approaches to your Rhumatoid |
| Drug Administration has approved two BRM's for the | | | | arthritis pain relief. |
| treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: etanercept (Enbrel) | | | | |