Aspirin and Related Drugs (NSAIDs).
Last updated Friday, May 11, 2007
About aspirin and NSAIDsAspirin and related drugs (salicylates) Aspirin is commonly used to treat many forms of arthritis. Although
aspirin is often very important, medication is only part of a total
treatment program for arthritis. You need to learn from your doctor
what else to do for your disease. A typical program includes medication
therapy as well as exercise, rest, and joint protection.
The salicylates are a family of related drugs that reduce the
effects of inflammation, a reaction of the body that causes pain,
swelling, redness, and heat. The word salicylate refers to the active
ingredient in the drugs. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid or ASA) is one
of these drugs.
Many of the others are chemically related to aspirin. Although
salicylates differ from each other slightly in chemical structure, they
have similar effects in the body. These drugs break down into
salicylate, a chemical that is found in the bark of willow trees and in
certain plants. Small amounts of salicylate can relieve headaches, mild
pain, and fever. Larger amounts taken regularly over a period of time
relieve some of the pain, heat, redness, and swelling associated with
the inflammation of many forms of arthritis. Still larger amounts can
cause toxicity (poisoning), which may be mild or severe.
Patients whose joint pain persists despite aspirin or NSAIDs for joint
pain may have a serious orthopaedic condition. Older patients with knee
pain, hip pain, shoulder pain, or elbow pain may have arthritis, and
there are surgical options for managing this -- including minimally-invasive knee replacement, total hip replacement, shoulder replacement, or elbow replacement, depending on the joint involved. Younger patients whose knee pain persists despite NSAIDs may have a meniscus tear, which may be repairable.
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