ABSTRACT
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 126 Pain Control in Arthritis ................................................................................................................. 126
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs ..................................................................... 126 Mechanism of Action ................................................................................................ 126 Administration .......................................................................................................... 127 Adverse Effects ......................................................................................................... 127 Monitoring and Patient Education ............................................................................ 128
Acetaminophen .................................................................................................................. 129 Mechanism of Action ................................................................................................ 129 Administration .......................................................................................................... 129 Adverse Effects ......................................................................................................... 129 Monitoring and Patient Education ............................................................................ 129
Opioid Analgesics .............................................................................................................. 129 Mechanism of Action ................................................................................................ 129 Administration .......................................................................................................... 129 Adverse Effects ......................................................................................................... 131 Monitoring and Patient Education ............................................................................ 131
Disease Modi—cation in Arthritis ................................................................................................... 131 Methotrexate .................................................................................................................... 131
Mechanism of Action ................................................................................................ 131 Administration .......................................................................................................... 131 Adverse Effects ......................................................................................................... 132 Monitoring and Patient Education ............................................................................ 132
Leflunomide ....................................................................................................................... 132 Mechanism of Action ................................................................................................ 132 Administration .......................................................................................................... 132 Adverse Effects ......................................................................................................... 132 Monitoring and Patient Education ............................................................................ 132
Sulfasalazine .................................................................................................................... 133 Mechanism of Action ................................................................................................ 133 Administration .......................................................................................................... 133
Arthritic symptoms are among the most common reasons for visits to physicians. Arthritic disorders may cause a variety of symptoms, but among the most common of these are pain and impairment of function. Functional impairment may be caused by pain, structural joint damage, or both. Relief of pain and prevention of joint damage should therefore be the primary goals of arthritis therapies. The extent to which these goals are attainable with traditional drug therapies will differ according to the particular type of arthritis being treated.
