Are Strong Narcotics Good For Modest Arthritis Pain?
The withdrawal of Vioxx and growing safety concerns of similar drugs has forced many arthritis sufferers to return to the old stand by, Tylenol. While this drug might pack less of a pain relieving punch than the broad range of non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs (NSAIDs), it is still considered generally safer. Sales of two arthritis supplements, glucosamine and chondroitin, are also reported to be up. Yet pain specialists say that a more potent and generally safe option remains largely neglected. “There is still an opioid phobia,” says arthritis expert, Dr. Sanford Roth, referring to the long-standing concerns of using powerful narcotic medications to treat common aches and pains. Opioid drugs are under close watch by the federal government due to their potential for being abused, and doctors are generally reluctant to prescribe them unless a patient is suffering severe pain, such as from a serious injury or cancer. Various surveys, however, suggest that arthritis patients are in ple
