NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
Comparative Effectiveness Review Summary Guides for Consumers [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2005-.
This publication is provided for historical reference only and the information may be out of date.
Is This Summary Right for Me?
Yes, if
- A doctor* said you have osteoarthritis (pronounced ah-stee-oharth-RYE-tis). Osteoarthritis is different from other kinds of arthritis such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis.
- The doctor suggested one of the following medicines for your osteoarthritis pain, and you want to know what research says about the medicine.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol®)
- Ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®)
- Diclofenac (Cambia®, Cataflam®, Voltaren®, Voltarol®, Zipsor®)
- Naproxen (Aleve®, Naprosyn®)
- Celecoxib (Celebrex®)
- Etodolac (Lodine®)
- Meloxicam (Mobic®)
- Nabumetone (Relafen®)
- Aspirin
- You are considering taking the nutritional supplements glucosamine or chondroitin for your osteoarthritis pain.
No, if
- A doctor has not said that you have osteoarthritis.
- You are under 18. The information in this summary is from research on adults.
What does this summary cover?
This summary describes how to manage osteoarthritis pain by using a group of medicines called “analgesics” (pronounced an-al-JEEZ-iks). It also discusses the research about different types of analgesics. It talks about each medicine’s ability to relieve pain and the risks for serious side effects. It can help you talk with your doctor about managing your osteoarthritis pain. Other ways to manage pain from osteoarthritis, such as surgery, narcotic medicines, or steroids, are not included in this summary.
Where does the information come from?
Researchers funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a Federal Government agency, updated a review of the research on analgesics for osteoarthritis. The updated review included 273 research studies published between January 2005 and January 2011. The report was reviewed by clinicians, researchers, experts, and the public. You can read the report atwww.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/analgesicsupdate.cfm.
Understanding Your Condition
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a painful condition in which joints become swollen and stiff.
- Cartilage is the soft tissue between the bones that meet at a joint. It acts as a cushion and allows your connecting bones to move smoothly without rubbing against each other.
- In people with osteoarthritis, the cartilage between bones begins to break down and the bones start grinding together.
- Osteoarthritis causes pain, joint swelling, and damage.
How common is osteoarthritis?
- Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis.
- It affects about 27 million people in the United States.
- It is a leading cause of disability.
- Osteoarthritis is more common in people who are older, overweight, or have injured a joint.
Why manage the pain of osteoarthritis?
- Osteoarthritis can be very painful and may get worse over time.
- Osteoarthritis can make it hard to move, work, or enjoy activities.
Understanding Your Options
What does it mean to manage the pain?
There is no cure for osteoarthritis. However, your doctor may suggest one or more of the following to help you manage your pain:
- Taking medicines called analgesics to help with pain and swelling.
- Keeping your weight at a healthy level to lessen the impact on your joints.
- Exercising to reduce pain and make it easier to do daily tasks.
What are analgesics?
Analgesics are a type of medicine that helps relieve pain and swelling. Analgesics come in different forms:
- Acetaminophen (pronounced uh-seet-uh-MIN-oh-fen): Most people know this medicine by the brand name Tylenol®.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, pronounced en-sedz): Some of the brand names of these medicines may be familiar to you, like Advil®, Motrin®, Aleve®, and Celebrex®.
- Skin creams: Common brand names include BenGay®, Aspercreme®, or Theragen®.
- Supplements: Some people use the nutritional supplements glucosamine (pronounced glue-KOH-suh-meen) and chondroitin (pronounced kon-DROY-tin) to reduce osteoarthritis pain.
Analgesics for Osteoarthritis Pain
| Acetaminophen | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What are the generic and brand names? | Acetaminophen is the generic name for this medicine. The brand name is Tylenol®. | |||
| Is this medicine available without a prescription? | This medicine is available without a prescription. | |||
| How well does this medicine help pain and swelling? |
| |||
| What are the possible side effects of this medicine? |
| |||
| NSAIDs | ||||
| What are the generic and brand names? | These medicines go by many generic and brand names:
| |||
| Are any of these medicines available without a prescription? | Ibuprofen and naproxen are available without a prescription. | |||
| How well do these medicines help pain and swelling? |
| |||
| What are the possible side effects of these medicines? |
| |||
| Skin Creams | ||||
| What are the generic and brand names? |
| |||
| Are any of these medicines available without a prescription? | Capsaicin and salicylate creams are available without a prescription. | |||
| How well do these medicines help pain and swelling? |
| |||
| What are the possible side effects of these medicines? |
| |||
| Supplements | ||||
| What are the generic and brand names? | The generic names for these supplements are glucosamine (pronounced glue-KOH-suh-meen) and chondroitin (pronounced kon-DROY-tin). These are sold under many brand names, and are sometimes sold together as one pill. | |||
| Are these supplements available without a prescription? | These supplements are available without a prescription, and can be found in grocery stores, drug stores, and natural food stores. | |||
| How well do these supplements help pain and swelling? |
| |||
| What are the possible side effects of these supplements? |
| |||
More information about possible serious side effects from taking NSAIDs
Stomach Problems—Researchers found that:
- More people taking naproxen, ibuprofen, or diclofenac developed ulcers (open sores in the stomach) than people taking celecoxib, meloxicam, or etodolac.
- More people taking naproxen had serious stomach problems like stomach bleeding and ulcers than people taking ibuprofen.
- People taking NSAIDs who have had stomach bleeding in the past are more likely to have stomach bleeding caused by NSAIDs than people who have not had stomach bleeding in the past.
- People who take blood thinners (like Coumadin® or warfarin) or other medicines to block clotting (such as aspirin) while taking naproxen, ibuprofen, or diclofenac are 3 to 6 times more likely to have stomach bleeding than people who take blood thinners alone.
- People who take a low dose (amount) of aspirin while taking celecoxib, naproxen, ibuprofen, or diclofenac increase their risk of getting an ulcer by about 6 percent.
- People who take higher doses of naproxen, ibuprofen, or diclofenac are more likely to have stomach bleeding than people who take lower doses.
- The risk of stomach problems from NSAIDs increases as you get older.
- Adding a medicine that reduces acid in the stomach (called a proton pump inhibitor, or PPI) to celecoxib could reduce the risk of ulcers and the problems caused by ulcers, including bleeding.
Heart Problems—Researchers found that:
- Taking celecoxib, ibuprofen, or diclofenac increases your chances of having heart problems.
- Naproxen does not increase your risk of heart attack.
- People who take higher doses of celecoxib have a higher risk of having a heart attack than people taking lower doses.
- The risk of having heart problems from NSAIDs increases as you get older.
- All NSAIDs can worsen blood pressure, heart function, and kidney function. However, there are no clear differences between naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, etodolac, meloxicam, or nabumetone in the risk of high blood pressure, heart failure, or poor kidney function.
Making a Decision
What should I think about when deciding?
Each pain medicine has a different set of benefits and risks, and each comes with a trade-off. Talk with your doctor to weigh the benefits and risks and to decide which medicine is best for you. You can discuss:
- How much pain and swelling you feel and how often you feel it.
- How well each medicine works to relieve pain and swelling.
- How comfortable you and your doctor are about your risks for serious side effects.
- Your age and other health issues that may affect your choice of pain medicine.
- The convenience and cost of having medicines available by prescription or over the counter.
What are the costs of analgesics?
The cost to you for analgesics depends on:
- The type of health insurance that you have.
- The dose (amount) you need.
- Whether the medicine is available in generic form or is sold without a prescription (“over the counter”). Some NSAIDs are available over the counter, but your insurance may not cover the cost of these medicines if you buy them this way.
The cost of over-the-counter analgesics depends on the pharmacy, the brand, and how much you buy at one time. When you shop around for the best price, you should also consider the quality of the product.
Wholesale Prices of Prescription Analgesics
| Drug Name | Dose | Form | How Often | Price per Month for Generic* | Brand Name | Price per Month for Brand Name* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSAIDs | ||||||
| Celecoxib | 100 mg | Tablet | Twice a day | N/A | Celebrex® | $176 |
| 200 mg | Tablet | Once a day | N/A | $145 | ||
| Ibuprofen | 400 mg | Tablet | Three times a day | $18 | Motrin®; Advil® | $28; $10 |
| Four times a day | $25 | $37; $13 | ||||
| 600 mg | Tablet | Three times a day | $26 | $36; $15 | ||
| Four times a day | $35 | $48; $20 | ||||
| 800 mg | Tablet | Three times a day | $35 | $51; $20 | ||
| Four times a day | $46 | $68; $27 | ||||
| Diclofenac | 50 mg | Tablet | Twice a day | $93 | Cambia®; Cataflam®; Zipsor® | $1,547; $290; $344 |
| Three times a day | $140 | $2,320; $435; $516 | ||||
| Naproxen | 250 mg | Tablet | Twice a day | $47 | Aleve®; Naprosyn® | N/A; $97 |
| 375 mg | Tablet | Twice a day | $64 | N/A; $124 | ||
| 500 mg | Tablet | Twice a day | $78 | N/A; $151 | ||
| Etodolac | 300 mg | Tablet | Twice a day | $86 | Lodine® | $101 |
| 300 mg | Tablet | Three times a day | $128 | $152 | ||
| 400 mg | Tablet | Twice a day | $88 | $107 | ||
| 500 mg | Tablet | Twice a day | $89 | $108 | ||
| Meloxicam | 7.5 mg | Tablet | Once a day | $95 | Mobic® | $156 |
| 15 mg | Tablet | Once a day | $144 | $239 | ||
| Nabumetone | 500 mg | Tablet | Twice a day | $78 | Relafen® | $126 |
| 1,000 mg | Tablet | Once a day | $78 | $126 | ||
| 1,000 mg | Tablet | Twice a day | $156 | $252 | ||
| 2,000 mg | Tablet | Once a day | $156 | $252 | ||
- *
Prices are the average wholesale prices as listed from RED BOOK Online®. Generic prices are the middle value in the range of prices listed from different manufacturers. The actual prices of the medicines may be higher or lower than the prices listed here depending on the manufacturer used by your pharmacy.
N/A = not available
Ask your doctor
- Which analgesic do you think is safest for me but will still help control my pain?
- Am I at risk for stomach or heart problems if I take an NSAID?
- How long will it take for my pain to be under control?
- What side effects should I watch for?
- Could my other health conditions or medicines affect which medicine I take for my osteoarthritis pain?
- What are my other options if these medicines do not help?
- Is there anything else I can do to help manage my osteoarthritis pain?
Other questions for your doctor
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Source
The information in this summary comes from the report Analgesics for Osteoarthritis: An Update of the 2006 Comparative Effectiveness Review, October 2011.
The report was produced by the Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center through funding by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
For a copy of the report or for more information about AHRQ and the Effective Health Care Program, go towww.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/analgesicsupdate.cfm. Additional information came from the MedlinePlus® Web site, a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. This site is available at www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus.
This summary was prepared by the John M. Eisenberg Center for Clinical Decisions and Communications Science at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. Patients with osteoarthritis reviewed this summary.
Footnotes
- *
In this summary, the term “doctor” refers to the health care professionals who may take care of you, including your physician, rheumatologist, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
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