Anti-inflammatory drugs serve to relieve pain in rheumatic diseases. These drugs and pharmaceuticals are used primarily for anti-inflammatory purposes and for joint diseases.
What are anti-inflammatory drugs?
Anti-inflammatory drugs are painkillers that have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects on rheumatic diseases. They serve to reduce the symptoms of rheumatism, but have no influence on the causes and further development of the inflammatory disease affecting the joints.
Furthermore, anti-inflammatory drugs are only effective against the inflammatory, but not against the degenerative rheumatic disease. Antirheumatic drugs are primarily used for rheumatic diseases, but they are also effective for inflammation and pain caused by other diseases and for fever.
The rheumatic disease is based on a malfunctioning immune system that attacks joints and tissues. A cure for rheumatism patients is currently not possible. The therapeutic goal is therefore to relieve symptoms, e.g. B. by taking anti-inflammatory drugs and avoiding further joint damage.
Application, effect & use
The treatment of rheumatism sufferers must not be limited to the administration of Anti-inflammatory drugs restrict. Especially in the case of the most common arthritis caused by rheumatism, intensive cooperation between the rheumatologist and z. B. physiotherapists and orthopedic surgeons are required to ensure the best possible therapy. As a last resort, surgical measures such as the removal of joint mucous membranes and the use of joint prostheses are possible.
The use of anti-inflammatory drugs provides the sick with rapid pain relief, so that their ability to move quickly improves. Unlike non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroidal preparations contain cortisone, which can lead to significant side effects. Antirheumatic drugs containing cortisone should therefore always be used as subordinate and carefully as possible.
Anti-inflammatory drugs containing cortisone can be injected directly into the joints or taken in tablet form. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used for arthritis, inflammation of the vertebrae, and gout. They are also used for osteoarthritis (disease caused by overstressing joints) and soft tissue rheumatism (painful disease of muscles and the musculoskeletal system).
A combination of different drugs is often given in rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the cortisone preparations and herbal active ingredients, this also includes the so-called basic drugs, which not only relieve pain, but also reduce the activity of the disease. However, the exact mode of action of these basic drugs that complement the antihreumatic drugs is not yet known.
Herbal, natural & pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory drugs
Within the group of Anti-inflammatory drugs the preparations can be differentiated according to their material structure:
The chemical-pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory drugs include the analgesic and anti-inflammatory propionic acid compounds such. B. Ibuprofen, which is used as a non-opioid pain reliever for mild to moderate pain.
Acetic acid compounds such as B. Aceclofenac have strong anti-inflammatory effects, but are less suitable as pain relievers. So-called selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors were newly developed, which only inhibit one specific enzyme and thus differ in their mode of action from other anti-inflammatory drugs.
In order to reduce the consumption of chemically produced anti-inflammatory drugs, plant-based active ingredients are often used. The tubers of the devil's claw are u in African medicine. a. used to treat pain and fever. In fact, an anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of this plant has been proven pharmacologically.
Devil's claw extracts inhibited the breakdown of joint cartilage. The degradation of prostglandin found as a side effect of chemically produced anti-inflammatory drugs did not occur when using the devil's claw. The use of the devil's claw is particularly suitable for chronic diseases, as the full effect only takes place after three weeks of use. The roots of the wallwort plant have similar effects.
Salicylates are based on salicylic acid, which is extracted from willow bark. Because they are sometimes poorly tolerated, it is sometimes recommended that drugs based on salicylic acid only be rubbed in, i.e. only used externally. The best known sub-case of salicylic acid is acetylsalicylic acid, which, in addition to reducing inflammation, also has a pain-relieving and fever-lowering effect.
As homeopathic anti-inflammatory drugs, medicinal herbs can be found e.g. B. as tea, but also as an envelope, rinse, bath or in the form of an ointment. The homeopathic anti-inflammatory drugs include a. Essential oils, Schüssler salts, Bach flowers and remedies according to Hildegard von Bingen.
Risks & side effects
When using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, asthma attacks can occur due to bronchial constriction, as these drugs inhibit the production of prostaglandins, which have a bronchodilator effect.
Possible side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on blood vessels and the heart are still being researched. It is assumed, however, that rheumatism already contributes to secondary symptoms in the cardiovascular area.
The selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors show fewer side effects on gastric mucous membranes, water excretion and blood clotting. However, it is assumed that the risk of myocardial infarction increases, especially when the preparation is first used.
Anti-inflammatory drugs containing cortisone can cause side effects such as B. muscle weakness, osteoporosis, glaucoma (increase in intraocular pressure), clouding of the lens (cataract), diabetes, immune weakness and a generally increased risk of infection.
Acetylsalicylic acid, derived from willow bark, is believed to increase the risk of gastric bleeding because of its effect on blood clotting. In contrast, devil's claw and wallwort are well tolerated and, in contrast to chemical-pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory drugs, no side effects are reported.
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