Although approved osteoarthritis medicines might provide relief from pain and other symptoms, but they also pose significant health hazards by way of adverse side effects. In many cases, they also can cause a lot of life threatening diseases. Find out the expert facts and natural treatments for osteoarthritis in this article.
To cite an example, Vioxx is a Cox-2 inhibitor drug and an approved osteoarthritis medicine manufactured by Merck. It had to be recalled from the market because it caused a lot of adverse side effects such as strokes, heart attacks and blood clots in the patient's suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, till today there are thousands of pending cases and law suits against it.
Similarly, Bextra is a drug similar to Vioxx. It was also taken off the market due to similar reasons. It had been found to cause Stevens Johnson syndrome, which is a type of skin disorder.
Similarly, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) which are approved osteoarthritis medicines also carry warning label stating that "users may face an increased risk of cardiovascular side effects and gastrointestinal bleeding".
Corticosteroids also come under "approved osteoarthritis medicines". They provide effective short-term relief from inflammation and pain. But they are known to cause various serious side effects such as fatigue, depression, drug dependence, abdominal pain, blurred vision, increased blood sugar levels in diabetics, etc.
Narcotic pain relievers such as oxycodone, vicodin, etc. are also approved osteoarthritis medicine. You would be shocked to know that the manufacturers of oxycodone had to pay millions of dollars as damages. It was because their sales representatives had allegedly advised the doctors that the drug was less addictive in comparison to other narcotics, whereas in reality it was one of the most addictive drugs.
Narcotic pain relievers only provide temporary pain relief as they block the pain receptors of nerve cells. In fact, they don't reduce inflammation at all. They can cause a lot of side effects such as constipation, dry mouth, drowsiness and difficulty in urinating. They also pose the risk of causing liver damage if their use is accompanied with alcohol.
Due to the risk of such side effects, more and more people are shifting towards the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Although they are not approved osteoarthritis medicine, they are frequently recommended by medical experts. They include nutritional supplements, increased physical activity and dietary changes.
Omega-3 fatty acids play a very important role in alleviating osteoarthritis symptoms. They reduce inflammation and tenderness in joints, enhance joint mobility and decrease morning stiffness in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
Fish oil supplements are one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Although they cannot be classified as osteoarthritis medication due to FTC regulations, they are widely used as long term treatment of osteoarthritis as well as due to their amazing benefits on overall health including the heart, brain, skin, digestive system, and joints.
Omega-3 fatty acids are natural blood thinners. Therefore, in case you are taking blood thinner medications such as aspirin, you should consult your doctor before you use fish oil supplements or omega-3 supplements as a treatment for osteoarthritis. This is so that you can avoid taking too many blood thinners as that could lead to serious side effects.
Green lipped mussel found in New Zealand is also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. It contains outstanding anti-inflammatory properties and helps to reduce pain and joint stiffness, increase grip strength and improves joint mobility in patients suffering from osteoarthritis.
The research on the best natural alternatives for treating osteoarthritis is going on. Newly approved osteoarthritis medicine might come up in the future. In the meantime, fish oil supplementation with a combination of green lipped mussel is one of the best natural alternatives for omega-3 supplementation and long-term treatment of osteoarthritis.
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