$Unique_ID{BRK00241}
$Pretitle{Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue}
$Title{Why Must You Work to Get NSAID to Work Correctly?}
$Subject{joints arthritis NSAIDs}
$Volume{M-17}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Why Must You Work to Get NSAID to Work Correctly?


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QUESTION:  My doctor gave me a prescription for an arthritis medicine called
NSAID, and said we would have to do some work to get the medicine to work
correctly.  Why?

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ANSWER:  NSAIDs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that have been or are
being developed to treat rheumatoid arthritis, similar conditions and for the
most common forms of arthritis.
     There are about 100 different NSAIDs and they are among the most widely
used drugs in the world.
     Arthritis patients need to understand that their doctors may switch their
prescriptions from one NSAID to another, because some of them may not work for
one individual as well as it will for another person.  Also, some people may
experience seriously upset stomachs or other unwanted side effects after
taking some NSAIDs.  Other factors that are considering in prescribing NSAIDs
are their costs, how rapidly they work in specific patients, how many times
per day a drug may have to be taken to reach its full therapeutic value, and
how safely they do their jobs.  All these factors are important
considerations, but arthritis pain varies greatly among patients and doctors
may decide to switch from one NSAID to another to help keep their patients as
comfortable as possible.  There may also be some switching before the exact
dosage for each patient is achieved.  Additionally, patients can develop
intolerances to drugs when they take them over long periods of time then may
need a different medicine.
     One also needs to understand that many NSAIDs are not taken alone but may
require one or more other drugs to help them work correctly and to help the
patient avoid side effects.
     The first NSAID was aspirin which is still widely used to treat certain
arthritic conditions.  While aspirin can cause serious stomach problems it is
still the cheapest of the class of drugs known as NSAIDs.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
