Preparations for the treatment of arthritis - it is two different groups of drugs: some are designed to suppress acute symptoms, such as pain, numbness, swelling of the joints, the other - to avoid further development of arthritis and prevent significant damage to the joints.

Suppression of symptoms of arthritis

Most types of arthritis are considered chronic diseases. Practically, this means that the symptoms of arthritis appear sporadically, compounded over a few hours or days, and then disappear for a period of time. To suppress the acute symptoms of polyarthritis when the next attack of the disease are recommended primarily standard nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs which relieve pain caused by inflammation of the joints, and inhibit inflammatory processes. Such drugs to treat arthritis can be purchased over the counter without a doctor's prescription - for example, ibuprofen, naproxen. More powerful anti-inflammatory painkillers may be prescribed by a doctor. The most common side effects of such drugs - disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

If NSAIDs do not help to suppress the pain caused by arthritis, your doctor may recommend steroids - drugs such as prednisone, which not only suppress inflammation and pain in the joints Joint pain - how to understand what is going on? But prevent further damage to them due to the development of polyarthritis. As a rule, it is recommended for the treatment of arthritis is very short course of steroid injections directly into the affected joint - long course of steroids may lead to rather serious side effects. Among them - the gradual thinning of the bones, diabetes, a sharp increase in body weight. Generally, steroids are prescribed to suppress the acute symptoms of fever only when standard drugs relieve pain, get rid of the symptoms of the disease do not help.

Prevention of inflammation of the joints

Another group of drugs for the treatment of arthritis is not intended for rapid suppression of disease symptoms, and to prevent its further development .  Although medications that would allow us once and for all get rid of the fever does not exist, it is such drugs as much as possible to help slow the spread of arthritis, protect joints from damage caused by inflammatory processes .  In the first place to prevent the development of arthritis are special antirheumatic drugs - including methotrexate, leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, minocycline .  Because such preparations are many potential side effects - for example, liver damage, lung infections - in some cases, the reception of such drugs are not recommended .  For example, methotrexate is contraindicated for treating arthritis in pregnancy because it may trigger a premature delivery or miscarriage Miscarriage - can you protect yourself from it? .

A relatively new type of drugs to treat certain types of arthritis - the so-called monoclonal antibodies, has been used successfully, particularly in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis - permanent debilitating joint pain . As antirheumatics such drugs inhibit inflammatory processes in the joints, preventing their deterioration. The most widespread representative of this category of drugs - rituximab, which is often used in combination with methotrexate.

Immunosuppressive drugs for the treatment of arthritis

In rheumatoid arthritis, which is the most common type of arthritis, for the treatment of immunosuppressive drugs are used. Since rheumatoid arthritis Arthritis - a variety of forms and complications Being an autoimmune disease, caused by disorders of the immune system as a result of which the body produces antibodies that trigger inflammation in the joints, immunosuppressive drugs are most effective. The most common category of representatives of immunosuppressants used for the treatment of rheumatoid poliartita - azathioprine, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide. Take these drugs with extreme caution is necessary to carefully follow the instructions of the doctor or the manufacturer - by suppressing the immune system, they make the body more vulnerable to various kinds of infections.

Tatiana Smirnova

  Gout - a rheumatic disease that usually affects one joint at a time. Most often it occurs in the big toes middle-aged men - swollen fingers, takes on a reddish hue, hurt. The pain of gout may be such that we have to make an effort even to just cross the room. In women, gout occurs - the ratio of patients with gout for men and women is about 10 to 1.

Causes

The cause of gout is the deposition of crystals of sodium urate (uric acid) in the joints. Uric acid is a byproduct of metabolism Metabolism: The basis of life of all living things . Normally, it is displayed together with urine, but patients with a predisposition to the development of gout it accumulates in the blood. Some of them uric acid concentration Uric acid - a normal level?   Blood is so great that part of it is deposited on the joints and sometimes on the skin (in the latter case may occur, for example, yellow spots on the trestles ears).

There are two types of gout.

Primary gout

Primary gout, or hyperuricemia, is characterized by elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. Usually it is caused by inherited abnormalities in the body, resulting in that the nucleic acid is converted to uric. In this case, the body can not produce quickly enough uric acid even under normal conditions.

Secondary gout

Typically, secondary gout causes any other disease or taking certain medications (e.g., diuretics or acetylsalicylic acid derivatives, including aspirin). This is produced in the body as uric acid that the kidneys can not cope with it.

Treatment

Treatment of patients with gout, has two main objectives:

• Relief of symptoms
• Prevent future gout attacks

Relieving symptoms of gout

During an attack of gout need to rest as much as possible, raising the higher the affected limb and avoiding its accidental damage.

To relieve the symptoms, you can try to cool the affected joint, enclosing ice. Instead, you can use the ice pack frozen food or a towel soaked in cold water.

A cold compress should be kept at least twenty minutes. Prolonged skin contact with ice may be harmful to blood vessels.

To relieve the symptoms of gout is often recommended to take NSAIDs, such as diclofenac, indomethacin and naproxen. They effectively relieve pain and inflammation. Patients who have previously had gout, recommended to have these drugs in the home medicine cabinet in case of a new attack. They need to be taken throughout the attack and within forty-eight hours after its completion.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be avoided by people with reduced kidney function. Those who have digestive problems, stomach ulcers or internal bleeding can take them only under medical supervision.

Colchicine

If it is impossible or unwillingness of the patient to take nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, or if they are ineffective in a particular case, you can use colchicine. It reduces inflammation by interacting with crystals of uric acid. Although colchicine is an effective remedy for gout, it is used less often because of the high likelihood of side effects such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain Abdominal pain: Types and Symptoms . If overdose kohitsin causes severe poisoning.

Corticosteroids

Medicines of this type are used to treat serious cases of gout, the symptoms are not amenable to the above medications. Corticosteroids produce prompt relief, but they are rarely used for prolonged treatment since they cause many side effects. Including:

• Weight Gain
• Fluid retention in the body
• Osteoporosis (bone thinning)
• Muscular weakness
• Thinning of the skin

Moreover, corticosteroids may cause deterioration of the symptoms of diabetes Symptoms of diabetes - if you are thirsty   and glaucoma.