Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAcetaminophenNSAIDsCorticosteroidsOpioids
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Acetaminophen
NSAIDs
Corticosteroids
Opioids
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Acetaminophen is a non-opioid analgesic used for mild to moderate pain. It is also an antipyretic that can lower a person’s fever. This drug is an active ingredient in countless over-the-counter medications and prescriptions, including Excedrin,Tylenol, andTylenol Arthritis. It is commonly used for arthritis relief because it doesn’t possess the same heart and gastrointestinal risks of NSAIDs. It’s seen as a safer alternative.
Unfortunately, acetaminophen isn’t an anti-inflammatory medication. The swelling and inflammation reduction that is a feature of NSAIDs is not available with acetaminophen.
Acetaminophen products bear warnings of severe liver damage, allergic reaction, and overdose. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a directive in 2011 to limit acetaminophen in prescription drugs to 325 mg per pill. Additionally, they stated that drugs with acetaminophen should feature a boxed warning label highlighting the potential for severe liver injury.
Many NSAIDs impact both forms of cyclooxygenase, combating inflammation but also contributing to bleeding in your stomach and ulcers. There is a targeted form of NSAID, COX-2 inhibitor, that block the inflammation-causing enzyme more than the stomach-protecting one. Celebrex (celecoxib) is the only COX-2 inhibitor available in the U.S. market.
Here’s an overview of some common NSAID options:
Side effects of NSAIDs may include:
Which Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) Is Best?
Corticosteroids, or steroids, are a type of drug that can suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation. They are prescribed to treat rheumatologic conditions, includingrheumatoid arthritis.They come in different forms. Some may be applied to a specific site of pain, such as joint injections or skin creams, while others like oral and IV steroids work systematically.
Below is a list of common corticosteroids from weakest to strongest:
Side effects increase with the dose and may include:
Increased blood sugar or diabetes, hypertension, bone mass loss or osteoporosis, and gastritis are also possible. Consult your healthcare provider if you experience more serious side effects like blurred vision, seizure, or unusual mood changes.
This class of drugs has long had a role in treating surgical and cancer pain.In recent years, they’ve increasingly been prescribed for chronic pain from arthritis. For example, up to 40% of rheumatoid arthritis patients are regular opioid users.The use of opioids for this type of pain remains controversial, however, and the benefits of these medications are unclear.
Here’s a list of opioids from weakest to strongest:
It’s important to take these medications exactly as prescribed. They can cause serious, life-threatening breathing problems, most likely during the first 72 hours of treatment and at any point when dosage increases. Your healthcare provider may need to carefully monitor your use of the drug.
We are living through a national opioid addiction crisis in the United States. In 2020, almost 75% of drug overdose deaths involved an opioid.When an opioid overdose is suspected, naloxone hydrochloride should be administered as soon as possible to reverse the effects of an overdose.
A Word From Verywell
The chronic pain associated with arthritis can be debilitating and limiting. It can hinder your ability to carry out normal daily tasks and go about your life with ease. That’s why it’s important to seek the treatment that’s right for you. While many medications can offer pain relief, they each come with specific recommendations and risks. Whether you are looking for short-term pain relief or more robust long-term treatment, be sure to discuss with your medical provider what the best medication regimen might be for you.
19 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Arthritis basics.Arthritis Foundation.Taking acetaminophen safely.United States Food and Drug Administration.FDA drug safety communication: prescription acetaminophen products to be limited to 325 mg per dosage unit; boxed warning will highlight potential for severe liver failure.Arthritis Foundation.NSAIDs.RXList.Voltaren.RxList.Naprosyn.Motrin.8 tips and remedies for arthritis pain relief at home.Arthritis Foundation.Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid).NHS.NSAIDs.Cleveland Clinic.Corticosteroids.Zoorob R, Cender D.A different look at corticosteroids.MedlinePlus.Methylprednisolone.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Dexamethasone tablets label.Grennan D, Wang S.Steroid side effects.JAMA. 2019;322(3):282. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.8506Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing opioid overdose.Tehrani M, Aguiar M, Katz JD.Narcotics in rheumatology.Health Serv Insights. 2013 Jun 13;6:39-45. doi: 10.4137/HSI.S10461Day AL, Curtis JR.Opioid use in rheumatoid arthritis: trends, efficacy, safety, and best practices.Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2019 May;31(3):264-270. doi: 10.1097/BOR.0000000000000602Ramos-Matos CF, Bistas KG, Lopez-Ojeda W.Fentanyl.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Understanding the opioid overdose epidemic.
19 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Arthritis basics.Arthritis Foundation.Taking acetaminophen safely.United States Food and Drug Administration.FDA drug safety communication: prescription acetaminophen products to be limited to 325 mg per dosage unit; boxed warning will highlight potential for severe liver failure.Arthritis Foundation.NSAIDs.RXList.Voltaren.RxList.Naprosyn.Motrin.8 tips and remedies for arthritis pain relief at home.Arthritis Foundation.Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid).NHS.NSAIDs.Cleveland Clinic.Corticosteroids.Zoorob R, Cender D.A different look at corticosteroids.MedlinePlus.Methylprednisolone.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Dexamethasone tablets label.Grennan D, Wang S.Steroid side effects.JAMA. 2019;322(3):282. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.8506Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing opioid overdose.Tehrani M, Aguiar M, Katz JD.Narcotics in rheumatology.Health Serv Insights. 2013 Jun 13;6:39-45. doi: 10.4137/HSI.S10461Day AL, Curtis JR.Opioid use in rheumatoid arthritis: trends, efficacy, safety, and best practices.Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2019 May;31(3):264-270. doi: 10.1097/BOR.0000000000000602Ramos-Matos CF, Bistas KG, Lopez-Ojeda W.Fentanyl.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Understanding the opioid overdose epidemic.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Arthritis basics.Arthritis Foundation.Taking acetaminophen safely.United States Food and Drug Administration.FDA drug safety communication: prescription acetaminophen products to be limited to 325 mg per dosage unit; boxed warning will highlight potential for severe liver failure.Arthritis Foundation.NSAIDs.RXList.Voltaren.RxList.Naprosyn.Motrin.8 tips and remedies for arthritis pain relief at home.Arthritis Foundation.Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid).NHS.NSAIDs.Cleveland Clinic.Corticosteroids.Zoorob R, Cender D.A different look at corticosteroids.MedlinePlus.Methylprednisolone.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Dexamethasone tablets label.Grennan D, Wang S.Steroid side effects.JAMA. 2019;322(3):282. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.8506Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing opioid overdose.Tehrani M, Aguiar M, Katz JD.Narcotics in rheumatology.Health Serv Insights. 2013 Jun 13;6:39-45. doi: 10.4137/HSI.S10461Day AL, Curtis JR.Opioid use in rheumatoid arthritis: trends, efficacy, safety, and best practices.Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2019 May;31(3):264-270. doi: 10.1097/BOR.0000000000000602Ramos-Matos CF, Bistas KG, Lopez-Ojeda W.Fentanyl.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Understanding the opioid overdose epidemic.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Arthritis basics.
Arthritis Foundation.Taking acetaminophen safely.
United States Food and Drug Administration.FDA drug safety communication: prescription acetaminophen products to be limited to 325 mg per dosage unit; boxed warning will highlight potential for severe liver failure.
Arthritis Foundation.NSAIDs.
RXList.Voltaren.
RxList.Naprosyn.
Motrin.8 tips and remedies for arthritis pain relief at home.
Arthritis Foundation.Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid).
NHS.NSAIDs.
Cleveland Clinic.Corticosteroids.
Zoorob R, Cender D.A different look at corticosteroids.
MedlinePlus.Methylprednisolone.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Dexamethasone tablets label.
Grennan D, Wang S.Steroid side effects.JAMA. 2019;322(3):282. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.8506
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing opioid overdose.
Tehrani M, Aguiar M, Katz JD.Narcotics in rheumatology.Health Serv Insights. 2013 Jun 13;6:39-45. doi: 10.4137/HSI.S10461
Day AL, Curtis JR.Opioid use in rheumatoid arthritis: trends, efficacy, safety, and best practices.Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2019 May;31(3):264-270. doi: 10.1097/BOR.0000000000000602
Ramos-Matos CF, Bistas KG, Lopez-Ojeda W.Fentanyl.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Understanding the opioid overdose epidemic.
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