On
this page: Medicines
List | Consumer
Medicine Information (CMI) | Risks
and Benefits | Analgesics | Non-Steroidal
Anti-Inflammatory Drugs | Disease
Modifying Anti-Rheumatic
Drugs |
Biologic Medicines | Corticosteroids |
Medicines in Arthritis News Magazine
Get to
know your medicines and treatments
Most people who have arthritis take medicine
at some time to assist them manage their
pain and discomfort.
 Medicines List
Medicines List enables you to carry a list
of all your medicines wherever you go.
You will be able to refer to it when you
visit your Doctor or Pharmacist.
Write out your medicines on this List
which folds neatly into a clear plastic
wallet. Its handy size allows you to carry
your Medicines List in your bag or pocket.
For more information: www.nps.org.au.
Photo in this section courtesy of
National Prescribing Service, www.nps.org.au
Before considering surgery, pregnancy
or breast-feeding, the use of any medicine
should be discussed with your doctor. Consumer Medicine
Information (CMI)
 CMIs are available to help consumers
use the medicines they take appropriately.
There is a CMI available for all prescription
and some over-the-counter medicines.
A CMI is factual, contains no advertising
material, and must comply with the requirements
set down in the Commonwealth Therapeutic
Goods Regulations.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a CMI
and they will print it from their computer.
Sometimes the CMI is provided inside the
packet or box with your medicine.
For further information on any of the
medicines listed in this brochure please
refer to the CMI.
CMIs are also available from the company
making the medicine or the National Prescribing
Service (NPS) Medicines Line 1300 888 763
available Monday to Friday 9am – 6pm
or www.nps.org.au.
Risks and benefits of taking a medicine
Some medicines may have side effects. Your
doctor has weighed the risks of using
this medicine against the benefits they
expect it will have for you.
It is important that your doctor is aware
of your full medical history, including
any family history of medical problems
and medicines that you are currently taking,
so they can make an accurate assessment
of the risk and benefits of prescribing
medicines for you.
Other medicines including over the counter,
herbal, complementary medicines and supplements,
as well as drinking alcohol can affect
the way medicines work.
If you experience any side effects please
discuss these with your doctor, healthcare
professional or pharmacist. If you experience
a serious side effect or have questions,
seek medical advice quickly or contact
the Medicines Line on 1300 888 763 available
Monday to Friday 9am – 6pm or www.nps.org.au.
Analgesics (pain relievers)
Pain relievers, such as paracetamol, may
be useful in combination with other medicines
that your doctor has prescribed. They
can help to manage the pain that may
be associated with Arthritis. If the
pain is severe and unrelenting, you should
see your GP or Rheumatologist and have
your treatment reviewed.
Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs are usually the first medicines
used in the treatment of inflammatory
arthritis. Examples of NSAIDs are ibuprofen,
piroxicam
and naproxen. A newer class of NSAIDs
are the COX-2 inhibitors, which include
celecoxib
(Celebrex®), meloxicam (Mobic®)
and lumiracoxib (Prexige®). NSAIDs can
improve
pain and
stiffness by reducing inflammation. They
are commonly used with other types of
medicines to get the best result.  Common side effects include heartburn,
raised blood pressure and swelling of the
ankles. These side effects are more likely
to occur in individuals over the age of
65 years. As everybody reacts differently
to NSAIDs you may need to switch to a different
NSAID to find the one that best controls
your symptoms with the least side effects.
Your doctor or pharmacist can advise you
on how these medicines may affect you.
Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs
(DMARDs)
DMARDs are medicines commonly
used in rheumatoid arthritis that may
improve some
of the symptoms of arthritis, in particular
inflammation of the limb joints. Examples
of DMARDs
are:
Sulfasalazine Salazopyrin®, Methotrexate
(Methoblastin®), Cyclosporine, Gold
Leflunomide (Arava®) Biologic Medicines
Biologic medicines are the latest disease
modifying medicines available for treating
severe inflammatory arthritis. They target
the individual molecules that are involved
in inflammation and joint damage.
A number of these medicines are directed
against a molecule that promotes inflammation
called tumour necrosis factor (TNF) which
is a natural substance called a cytokine.
In people with arthritis, TNF is present
in the blood and joints in excessive amounts.
TNF inhibitors block or neutralise TNF
reducing the inflammation and symptoms.
The biologic medicines are given either
by injection under the skin, or by infusion
into a vein. They can only be prescribed
by a Rheumatologist.
The biologics that are currently available
for use in Arthritis include: etanercept
(Enbrel®), infliximab (Remicade®)
and adalimumab (Humira®).
Corticosteroids (or steroids)
Corticosteroids are man-made substances
that resemble hormones naturally produced
by our body. They relieve pain and are
powerful anti-inflammatory medicines.
You may be prescribed corticosteroid
tablets, most commonly prednisolone. These medicines have possible side effects
and require careful monitoring of blood
pressure, cholesterol, glucose levels and
bone density.
Corticosteroids may also be given as a
local injection into an inflamed joint.
This injection can provide rapid control
of pain and swelling as a short-term approach.
Check out the Medicines Update page in
your Arthritis News Magazine
Recent articles have been on:
- What's on
the label
- Older bodies
and medicines– Ref:
NPS Medicines Talk
Click here to apply for membership of
Arthritis NSW and get our magazine.
If you would like information about medicines please visit the medicines website www.medicines.org.au
|
