Paracetamol does nothing to improve arthritis pain

A recent study has revealed that paracetamol could be useless at treating arthritis pain, regardless of the dose.

According to research conducted with the Swiss National Science Foundation, paracetamol does not improve pain much more than placebo pills would.

“We see no role for single-agent paracetamol for the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis irrespective of dose”, the researchers noted.

Their work compared 74 clinical trials which encompassed nearly 60,000 arthritis patients. Different methods of pain management were compared.

Instead of paracetamols, the researchers determined that non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are most effective in treating arthritis pain.

“(Dosages of) 150 mg / day is the most effective NSAID available at present, in terms of improving both pain and function”, the research team noted.

“Physicians need to consider our results together with all known safety information when selecting the preparation and dose for individual patients”, they advised.

In fact, there has long been a debate about whether paracetamol and other over-the-counter medications can treat painful arthritis symptoms.

“I’ve been suffering for years!”, said one arthritis patient who uses paracetamol without success. “It’s useless!”

Whilst another commented online, “Any arthritis suffered will tell you paracetamol doesn’t work. Anti-inflammatory drugs help, or coriander leaves and cherries help too”.

Arthritis is the major cause of disability and chronic pain in Australia, with 3.85 million people living with this often debilitating condition.

Are you living with arthritis? Does somebody you know suffer from arthritis symptoms? How do they manage chronic pain?