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Topical painkillers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory creams (NSAIDs) give only temporary help for the pain of the joint condition osteoarthritis. Doctors often prescribe topical NSAIDs to avoid the intestinal bleeding that can occur when the drugs are taken orally, however after two weeks the relief from the topical drugs faded. At least one-quarter of Americans have arthritis or a related disease. It's important to recognize that the only problem with the arthritis drugs is not that they do not work after two weeks. The oral drugs have also been linked to a host of problems including heart failure. The good news is that there are alternatives to anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis and you can learn about some of them now.
Forbes July 30, 2004