Joint Pain (Arthralgia): Drug Therapy

Therapy goals

  • Reduction of pain and thus increase of mobility.
  • Diagnosis finding

Therapy recommendations

  • Analgesia (pain relief) during diagnosis until definitive therapy 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.
  • Women menopausal or postmenopausal: the Endocrine Society pronounces exclusively for estrogens a protective effect in relation to osteoarthritis (evidence level B;).
  • See also under “Further therapy“.

Supplements (dietary supplements; vital substances)

Suitable dietary supplements should contain the following vital substances:

In the presence of insomnia (sleep disturbance) due to joint pain, see below insomnia / drug therapy / supplements.