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I've been taking anti-inflammatories for my osteoarthritis. But I saw some information that says these drugs can actually make my arthritis worse. What's the scoop on this?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most commonly used medications for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). They provide relief from the painful symptoms of OA. They do this by stopping the production of prostaglandins.

Prostaglandins are chemicals in the body that have a wide range of functions. One of those is to help the process of inflammation. By stopping prostaglandins, the inflammatory process is also halted.

However, studies have shown that one of the other functions of prostaglandins is to keep the joint cartilage healthy. Halting or impairing prostaglandins appears to make arthritis worse.

That's one reason scientists are hard at work trying to find nondrug ways to stop inflammation. They are hoping to find ways to do this without negatively affecting the joint. Many types of nutraceuticals are being studied for OA. Nutraceuticals are natural plant products used as supplements to help promote health and prevent disease.

Some of the more commonly used nutraceuticals for OA include glucosamine and chondroitin. You may have also heard of SAMe. Other less well known substances used to manage OA include willow bark, evening primrose oil, and curcum (tumeric).

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