Pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis
10.5124/jkma.2018.61.10.623
- Author:
Hyoungyoung KIM
1
;
Yoon Kyoung SUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Korea. sungyk@hanyang.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of the Korean Medical Association
2018;61(10):623-629
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic degenerative disease, and its prevalence increases with age. For patients with symptomatic OA, pharmacological treatment is suggested if symptoms and function do not improve with nonpharmacological modalities, including exercise, devices, manual therapy, or self-management programs. Attempts have been made to develop medications that prevent the structural progression of OA; however, the pharmacological treatment of OA has focused on the management of pain to improve the functional ability of joints. Clinicians try to prescribe adequate classes and doses of medications for pain relief, considering the affected parts of joints, each patient's comorbidities, and the clinical response to medical treatment, including tolerability and side effects. It is important to titrate the dose of medications as patients' symptoms change over time, maintaining the lowest effective dose for each individual.
