What is mostly prescribed for arthritis? Understanding common medications

October 7, 2025 •

3 min read

Millions of people worldwide live with arthritis, a condition characterized by joint pain and inflammation. When it comes to managing symptoms, the question of what is mostly prescribed for arthritis is complex, as treatment depends heavily on the specific type of the disease. The most common approach involves several classes of medication tailored to the individual's needs.

Quick Summary

Most prescribed medications for arthritis depend on the type and severity, ranging from over-the-counter NSAIDs for pain and swelling to specific drugs like DMARDs for slowing disease progression in inflammatory arthritis.

Key Points

Medication Depends on Arthritis Type: The most prescribed medication depends on whether the patient has inflammatory arthritis (like RA) or non-inflammatory arthritis (like OA).
NSAIDs Are Widely Used: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are a very common medication class for treating both pain and inflammation in many forms of arthritis.
DMARDs Slow Disease Progression: For inflammatory arthritis, Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate, are prescribed to suppress the immune system and slow joint damage.
Biologics Target Specific Pathways: Biologics are a powerful, targeted class of DMARDs used when conventional treatments fail, and they block specific inflammatory proteins or cells.
Corticosteroids Offer Short-Term Relief: Steroids are used for quick, temporary relief during severe flare-ups due to their potent anti-inflammatory effects but are not for long-term use.
Topical Treatments Have Fewer Systemic Effects: Topical NSAIDs like diclofenac gel can provide effective localized pain relief with a lower risk of systemic side effects compared to oral versions.
Treatment Requires Medical Supervision: A healthcare provider must determine the most suitable medication regimen, which often involves adjusting medications and dosages over time.

The treatment landscape for arthritis is diverse, with medication playing a central role in managing symptoms, controlling inflammation, and, in some cases, slowing or stopping disease progression. This article explores the most common types of medications prescribed for the different forms of arthritis, highlighting how a doctor determines the right approach for each patient.

A Tailored Approach to Arthritis Treatment

There is no single medication that is mostly prescribed for arthritis. Instead, treatment is tailored based on the type of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or psoriatic arthritis. The specific drug, dosage, and duration will depend on the severity of symptoms, potential side effects, and other health conditions a patient might have. For conditions like osteoarthritis, the focus is typically on pain and inflammation relief, while for inflammatory types such as RA, the priority is to suppress the overactive immune system to prevent joint damage.

Most Prescribed Medication Classes for Arthritis

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs are one of the most widely used medication classes for arthritis, available in both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription strengths. They work by blocking enzymes that trigger inflammation and pain. Common examples include ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, celecoxib, and diclofenac.

Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)

For inflammatory forms of arthritis like RA, DMARDs are crucial for preventing joint damage and slowing disease progression by suppressing the immune system. Common DMARDs include methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, and leflunomide.

Biologics

Biologics are advanced DMARDs that target specific immune system components. They are used for moderate to severe inflammatory arthritis unresponsive to conventional DMARDs. Examples include TNF inhibitors (like adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab), B-cell inhibitors (like rituximab), and interleukin inhibitors (like tocilizumab).

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are fast-acting anti-inflammatory drugs used for short-term relief during severe flare-ups. They can be taken orally or injected into a joint, but long-term use is avoided due to significant side effects.

Other Common Treatments

Topical Agents: Creams and gels with NSAIDs (like diclofenac gel) or counterirritants can provide localized relief with fewer systemic effects.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Used for mild to moderate pain relief, though its effectiveness for osteoarthritis pain is debated, and it doesn't treat inflammation.

Comparison of Arthritis Medication Classes


Feature	NSAIDs (Oral)	Conventional DMARDs	Biologics	Corticosteroids (Oral/Injection)
Primary Action	Reduces pain and inflammation	Suppresses overactive immune system	Targets specific immune components	Strong anti-inflammatory effect
Speed of Effect	Hours to days	Weeks to months	Weeks to months	Hours to days
Targets Arthritis Type	OA, RA, others	RA, Psoriatic Arthritis	Moderate to severe inflammatory arthritis	RA flares, other inflammatory conditions
Long-Term Use	Not recommended due to side effects (GI, heart)	Recommended for managing disease progression	Recommended for managing disease progression	Not recommended due to significant side effects (bone thinning, etc.)
Common Side Effects	Stomach irritation, heart risk	Liver damage, infection risk	Infection risk, injection site reactions	Weight gain, bone thinning, high blood pressure

The Prescribing Process for Arthritis

A doctor determines the most appropriate medication based on the type of arthritis, symptom severity, and other health factors. This involves diagnosing the specific type of arthritis, assessing symptoms, and starting with appropriate medications, which may range from OTC options for osteoarthritis to early and aggressive DMARD treatment for inflammatory arthritis like RA. Adjustments may be made if the initial treatment is ineffective or causes side effects, and corticosteroids might be used for short-term flare management.

Conclusion

The most prescribed medication for arthritis is not a single drug, but rather a class of medications chosen based on the type of arthritis. NSAIDs are common for symptom management in osteoarthritis, while DMARDs, including biologics, are standard for inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis to slow disease progression. Understanding these medication classes and the tailored treatment approach is essential for effective arthritis management.

For more detailed information on arthritis management, visit the Arthritis Foundation website.

Frequently Asked Questions

For osteoarthritis, common prescriptions include oral or topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac, used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Acetaminophen is also used for pain relief, although recent studies have questioned its effectiveness for OA.

Methotrexate is most commonly the first disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis, often used with a short course of corticosteroids to control initial inflammation.

Biologics are a class of targeted DMARDs made from living cells. They are prescribed for moderate to severe inflammatory arthritis when conventional DMARDs have not been effective.

Topical medications, such as diclofenac gel, can be effective for localized osteoarthritis pain in joints close to the skin, like the hands and knees. They have the benefit of fewer systemic side effects compared to oral medications.

Corticosteroids are used to manage severe, short-term flare-ups of arthritis pain and inflammation due to their powerful anti-inflammatory effects. They are not suitable for long-term use because of their side effects.

While once a common first-line treatment for osteoarthritis pain, recent studies have found acetaminophen to be no more effective than a placebo for pain relief in hip and knee OA, leading medical guidelines to recommend NSAIDs first for pain control.

NSAIDs primarily provide pain and inflammation relief and have a rapid onset, but do not alter the course of the disease. DMARDs, in contrast, work to slow or stop the underlying disease progression, but often take weeks or months to become fully effective.