title: Pharmacotherapy and osteoarthritis.
abstract: Therapy for osteoarthritis (OA) is aimed at relieving symptoms and at maximizing function. Therapies can be considered as either symptom modifying OA drugs (SMOADs) or as disease modifying OA drugs (DMOADs). Currently available agents fall into the category of SMOADs. Analgesic medications, particularly paracetamol and capsaicin, have proven efficacy in OA and are recommended first line therapies. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do appear to provide extra symptomatic benefit for some patients but have greater toxicity. Newer generation NSAIDs may have safety advantages which remain to be confirmed in practice. Further therapies are being developed which aim to prevent cartilage damage and/or aid cartilage restoration, but these DMOADs remain in the experimental stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, St Vincents Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conaghan
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kenyon
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal