Drug utilization in patients with OA: a population-based study

Abstract

Drug combinations are common in the treatment of OA patients, who are thus exposed to potential drug interactions, with unknown impacts on their health. The increasing use of opioids and COX-2 inhibitors is noteworthy because of the potential impact on safety and costs.

Risk of Acute Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular Events Among Users of Acetaminophen or an Acetaminophen-Codeine Combination in a Cohort of Patients with Osteoarthritis: A Nested Case-Control Study

“…We investigated whether the use of acetaminophen or acetaminophen‐codeine combinations was associated with ACCEs in patients with OA for two main reasons. First, this patient population receives the highest proportion of analgesic drugs (73%) in Italy as well as in other countries . Second, patients with OA frequently have comorbidities that might pose a higher risk of ACCEs .…”

Investigational drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis

“…Acetaminophen, oral and topical NSAIDs, tramadol and opioids have variably been recommended for symptom relief [7]. According to a population-based study, the drugs most frequently used for OA therapy are chondroitin (21.2%), glucosamine (15.8%) and oral NSAIDs (14.4%), and the incidence of the use of opioids, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors and chondroitin increased over 5-year period, whereas all others have decreased [8]. Although COX-2 inhibitors have incidence of lower gastrointestinal side effects, its cardiovascular risk should be carefully monitored when it is used for each patient [9].…”

Skin Delivery of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphates—A Perspective on the Conservative Treatment for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

“…The use of medication to treat symptoms is often recommended by physicians. Many use alternative therapies and surgical intervention to address OA symptoms [2].…”