A wide variety of treatment options are available for
osteoarthritis pain relief. The pharmacist can serve as a source of information
within his or her area of expertise, addressing controversies such as nonsteroidal
antiinflammatory drugs versus acetaminophen, glucosamine-chondroitin, topical
therapies, and herbals. Patients should be encouraged to use pain scales and
diaries as they try different therapies.
Pincus T. , Koch GG , Sokka T. , et al. A randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial
of diclofenac plus misoprostol versus acetaminophen in patients with
osteoarthritis of the hip or knee . Arthritis
Rheum.2001;44: 1587-1598
.
2.
Felson DTThe verdict favors nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for treatment
of osteoarthritis and a plea for more evidence on other treatments
. Arthritis Rheum.2001;44: 1477-1480
.
3.
Draganov P. , Durrence H. , Cox C. , Reuben A.Alcohol-acetaminophen syndrome . Postgrad
Med.2000;107: 189-195
.
4.
Bresalier RS , Sandler RS , Quan H. , et al. Cardiovascular events associated with rofecoxib in a
colorectal adenoma chemoprevention trial . N Engl J
Med.2005;352: 1092-1102
.
5.
Frantz S.Vioxx could signify trouble in class. Available at: www.nature.com/drugdisc/news. Accessed March 24,
2007.
6.
Clegg DO , Reda DJ , Harris CL , et al. Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and the two in
combination for painful knee osteoarthritis . N Engl J
Med.2006;23: 795-808
.
7.
Hochberg MCNutritional supplements for knee osteoarthritis—still no
resolution . N Engl J Med.2006;354: 858-860
.
8.
Moore RA , Tramer MR , Carroll D. , Wiffen PJ , McQuay HJQuantitative systematic review of topically applied non-steroidal
antiinflammatory drugs . BMJ.1998;316: 333-338
.