What medicine is good for osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease, mainly characterized by joint pain, stiffness and limited mobility. As the aging of the population intensifies, the incidence of osteoarthritis increases year by year, and how to choose appropriate drugs has become a focus of concern for patients. This article will combine the hot topics and hot content in the past 10 days to give you a detailed introduction to the drug treatment plan for osteoarthritis.
1. Commonly used drugs for osteoarthritis

The drug treatment of osteoarthritis mainly includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics, intra-articular injection drugs and disease-improving drugs. The following are the classification and functions of common drugs:
| drug class | Representative medicine | Mechanism of action | Applicable people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) | Ibuprofen, diclofenac, celecoxib | Suppresses inflammatory response, relieves pain and swelling | Patients with mild to moderate pain |
| analgesics | Acetaminophen | Acts directly on the central nervous system to relieve pain | Patients who are intolerant to NSAIDs |
| intra-articular injection of drugs | Glucocorticoids, hyaluronic acid | Topically anti-inflammatory or lubricate joints | Patients with moderate to severe pain |
| condition-modifying drugs | Glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate | Protect cartilage and delay disease progression | Early stage osteoarthritis patients |
2. Hot topics in the past 10 days: New developments in osteoarthritis drugs
Recently, research on osteoarthritis drugs has made some new progress. The following are some hot topics:
1.New NSAIDs: Researchers have found that selective COX-2 inhibitors (such as celecoxib) are better at reducing gastrointestinal side effects, which has become the focus of recent heated discussions.
2.Controversy over intra-articular injection therapy: The efficacy of hyaluronic acid injection varies from person to person. Some experts believe that its effect is limited, and long-term use of glucocorticoid injection may accelerate joint degeneration, triggering widespread discussion.
3.The Promise of Stem Cell Therapy: Stem cell therapy is considered a potential treatment for osteoarthritis in the future, but it is still in the experimental stage and further research is needed to verify its safety and effectiveness.
3. How to choose the medicine that suits you?
When choosing an osteoarthritis medication, consider the following factors:
| factor | illustrate |
|---|---|
| severity of illness | Acetaminophen is the first choice for mild pain, while NSAIDs or intra-articular injections are needed for moderate to severe pain. |
| Age and physical condition | Elderly patients need to pay attention to the cardiovascular and renal effects of NSAIDs |
| drug side effects | Long-term use of NSAIDs may cause gastrointestinal bleeding, so caution is required |
| economic factors | Condition-improving drugs (such as glucosamine) require long-term use and are more expensive |
4. Precautions for drug treatment
1.follow doctor's advice: Osteoarthritis drugs should be used under the guidance of a doctor, especially NSAIDs and glucocorticoids, and avoid adjusting the dosage by yourself.
2.Combined non-pharmacological treatment: Medications can only relieve symptoms, and are more effective when combined with exercise rehabilitation, weight loss and physical therapy.
3.Regular review: Long-term users need to regularly check liver and kidney function and gastrointestinal conditions to detect side effects in a timely manner.
5. Summary
Medications for osteoarthritis require individualized selection, ranging from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to intra-articular injections, each with its own indications and limitations. Recently, hot topics have focused on new NSAIDs and stem cell therapies, but patients still need to use drugs rationally based on clinical evidence and under the guidance of doctors. At the same time, combined with lifestyle adjustments and rehabilitation exercises, disease progression can be better controlled.
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