Arthritis

Arthritis describes a group of joint conditions that can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling. This category brings together medicines and supportive options used across many types, from wear-and-tear forms to immune-driven disease. You can compare brands, dosage forms, and strengths, and review how options are taken or injected. Availability may vary by time or location, and selections can change. US shipping from Canada is available for many items within our broader catalog.

What’s in This Category

This selection spans several therapeutic classes used in arthritis treatment. You will find nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain and swelling, corticosteroids used for flares, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that address immune overactivity. Biologic agents and targeted synthetic options are also included, typically reserved for moderate to severe disease or when other therapies are not effective.

Formats include oral tablets and capsules, topical gels, and prefilled injections. Examples of NSAIDs include celecoxib capsules, naproxen tablets, and meloxicam. Short courses of steroids can help settle flares, while DMARDs may slow progression. Some products need monitoring or lab tests, and that often guides how prescribers sequence options. People managing long-term disease may also use physical therapy, bracing, or exercise alongside medicine; see our piece on arthritis pain medication and lifestyle changes for practical context.

How to Choose: Arthritis

Start with your diagnosis, severity, and treatment goals. NSAIDs can help with day-to-day pain and swelling, but they have gastrointestinal, kidney, and cardiovascular considerations. Steroids calm inflammation quickly but can affect blood sugar, mood, and bone health. DMARDs and biologics aim to control the underlying immune process and can reduce long-term joint damage when used appropriately.

Match the form to your routine and comfort. Oral medicines are convenient; topical gels suit localized joints; and prefilled pens simplify home injections. Compare dose strengths and dosing frequency, and note if food is needed with tablets. Review storage needs for injectables, and plan for safe travel with cool packs when necessary. Discuss lab monitoring schedules, potential interactions, and vaccination timing with your clinician before starting any new therapy.

Popular Options

Common NSAID choices include generics and brands with varied strengths. People who need a COX-2 selective option sometimes review Celebrex with their doctor, while others consider celecoxib capsules in different doses. Traditional NSAIDs such as naproxen tablets and once-daily meloxicam are also familiar options for joint pain and stiffness.

When anti-inflammatories are not enough, clinicians may suggest short steroid tapers like prednisone to bridge flares. For immune-driven disease, conventional DMARDs and antimalarials such as Plaquenil can help reduce swelling and protect joints over time. People comparing medicines often check our overview of RA medication types to understand how these classes differ in onset, safety, and monitoring.

Related Conditions & Uses

Inflammatory forms such as Rheumatoid Arthritis can affect many joints symmetrically, cause morning stiffness, and require close follow-up. Degenerative joint disease like Osteoarthritis often begins in weight-bearing joints and may respond to exercise, weight management, and targeted anti-inflammatories. If your symptoms began in the spine or with enthesitis, review our page on axial patterns for context and red flags.

For early warning signs, see Early Signs of RA to compare typical symptoms and timing. During colder months, joint stiffness can worsen; these warm-up exercises for arthritis in winter can support daily comfort alongside medicines. Talk with your care team about flares, activity goals, and how treatments fit with other conditions, including heart, kidney, or gastrointestinal issues. People exploring autoimmune overlap may also review psoriatic patterns and juvenile forms through our condition guides.

Medical disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Authoritative Sources

Clinical guidance on NSAID safety and class effects is outlined in the FDA’s consumer-focused material; you can review the medication class basics here: FDA NSAIDs information. For background on how is arthritis diagnosed in routine practice, Health Canada and provincial resources describe referral, imaging, and lab steps; see an overview of the class and monitoring here: Health Canada biologics overview.

For patient-friendly education on the types of arthritis and self-management basics, a leading nonprofit maintains comprehensive guides reviewed by clinicians; see their condition education hub here: Arthritis Foundation disease pages. External resources are provided for neutral education and should not replace medical advice from your healthcare professional.