Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or better known as NSAIDs might be very effective for you, since it is the very first thing that you will use to relieve pains like headache. But if you will depend much in this type of painkiller all the time for rheumatoid arthritis, it is very essential to be very cautious about it. NSAIDs were used for the treatment of joint pains and swollen rheumatoid arthritis for thirty years now. These days, there are various kinds of NSAIDs in the market and most of them can be bought over the counter.

Some drugs like ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin and others are considered NSAIDs and their strengths differ too. Those with prescriptions are much stronger than those who are considered as over the counter drugs. Since NSAIDs can help in relieving the signs of rheumatoid arthritis, it cannot address the cause of the pain and swelling and it cannot even improve your condition. As a type of disease modifying medicine anti-rheumatoid arthritis medicines or better known as DMARDs can do that for you. They might help in changing your life through the treatment plan.

The advantages of NSAIDs for RA

Rheumatoid arthritis usually causes joint pains & inflammation and it is only NSAIDS that can help in relieving the pains and the signs in just few hours, even if it may take longer to lessen the inflammation of the joints, though this may happen quite longer than expected. All drugs under the NSAIDs category work by simply blocking the chemical production known as prostaglandins that causes the pain and the inflammation. A lot of NSAIDs block COX-1 & 2 prostaglandins. There is this one prescription drug under NSAIDs called Celecoxib that only blocks COX-2.

The dangers of NSAIDs to RA

Over the counter and prescription NSAIDs drugs differ in the dose only according to a doctor. All of the NSAIDs come with the same dangers and the higher the dose the more you need to take NSAIDs, the greater the danger you will go face. Stomach aches, bleeding, ulcers, and some other dangers are linked with NSAIDs, most especially people ages 60 years and above. NSAIDs that only blocks COX-2 will be able to lessen the side effects, but Celecoxib will be the only drug that will be in the market due to its COX-2 inhibitors that were found to boost the side effects, like the risks of stroke and heart problems as well.

The truth is that all of the NSAIDs can boost the risk for heart attack, heart failure and stroke as well. This is the reason why the USFDA mandates a heart disease, stroke, obstructive pulmonary, kidney disease and RA. There are some risks from using NSAIDs and these are hypertension, allergies, kidney problems and swelling of some body parts. A lot of people with RA cannot take NSAIDs due to their hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, gastritis and other conditions or it may be because of blood thinners according to doctors.