Frozen Shoulder: Drug Therapy

Therapy target

Pain relief and thus improvement of mobility.

Therapy recommendations

  • Analgesia (pain relief) according to WHO staging scheme.
    • Non-opioid analgesic (paracetamol, first-line agent).
    • Low-potency opioid analgesic (e.g., tramadol) + non-opioid analgesic.
    • High-potency opioid analgesic (eg, morphine) + non-opioid analgesic.
  • If necessary, anti-inflammatory drugs / drugs that inhibit inflammatory processes (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs), eg ibuprofen.
  • If necessary, intraarticular (“into the joint”) glucocorticoids in diagnostically confirmed adhesive capsulitis (“frozen shoulder“).
  • See also under “Further therapy“.