Arthritis medication: what to expect and how to choose

Dealing with arthritis means balancing short-term pain relief with long-term joint health. The right medicine depends on the type of arthritis you have (osteoarthritis vs inflammatory types like rheumatoid arthritis), how bad symptoms are, and other health issues you may have. Below is a clear, practical guide to the common drug options and how to use them safely.

Quick rundown of common drug types

NSAIDs — ibuprofen, naproxen, and prescription options help pain and inflammation fast. They work well for flare-ups but can raise the risk of stomach bleeding and increase blood pressure. Use the lowest effective dose and check with your doctor if you have heart or kidney issues.

Acetaminophen — useful for mild pain when NSAIDs aren’t a fit. It won’t reduce inflammation. Watch liver limits (max daily dose depends on product and health status).

Topical options — diclofenac gel and other topical NSAIDs can ease pain in a single joint with fewer systemic side effects. Good first step for knee or hand osteoarthritis.

Corticosteroids — oral or joint injections cut inflammation quickly. Injections can give good short-term relief without the side effects of long-term oral steroids. Repeated high-dose oral use can cause weight gain, bone loss, and high blood sugar.

DMARDs (disease‑modifying antirheumatic drugs) — methotrexate, sulfasalazine, leflunomide and others slow disease progression in inflammatory arthritis. Methotrexate is common; doses are weekly and doctors usually add folic acid to reduce side effects.

Biologics and targeted therapies — TNF blockers (adalimumab, etanercept), IL-6 blockers, and JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib, baricitinib) are used when DMARDs aren’t enough. They’re powerful at controlling inflammation but raise infection risk and need careful monitoring.

How to use medicines safely

Talk about goals: symptom relief, slowing damage, improving function. Ask your doctor why they pick a specific drug and what success looks like.

Monitoring matters. Expect blood tests for methotrexate (CBC, liver) and for biologics (infection screening, sometimes TB test). JAK inhibitors often require lipid checks and infection vigilance.

Vaccines: get up to date before starting biologics or some DMARDs. Avoid live vaccines while on those drugs.

Drug interactions and lifestyle tips: tell your doctor all medicines, including OTC pills and supplements. Folic acid helps with methotrexate side effects. Limit alcohol with liver‑affecting drugs. Keep a medication list and note any new infections or unusual symptoms immediately.

If cost or access is a problem, ask about generics, patient assistance programs, or step-up strategies starting with safer, cheaper options.

Arthritis treatment usually combines medicine, exercise, weight control, and sometimes injections or surgery. If pain limits daily life or joint swelling persists, ask for a referral to a rheumatologist. They’ll target the right drug mix to control inflammation and protect joints long term.