Osteoarthritis is a common disease affecting many across the world, especially, the elderly (65 years and above).It is usually caused by the wearing out of the cartilage located on the bone ends (Hochberg et al., 2012). The disease is usually associated with mild symptoms in its benign stages and with time, progress to severe levels which are characterized by debilitating symptoms such as pain within the affected joints, stiffness, tenderness, grating sensation and bone spurs (Loeser et al., 2012).
Osteoarthritis has got no cure but symptoms can be managed through lifestyle modification and use of pharmacological approaches (Berenbaum, 2013). Examples of drugs that can be used to manage osteoarthritis symptoms include; acetaminophen and NSAIDS. These drugs are meant to reduce symptoms such as pain and inflammation caused by the disease. Precisely acetaminophen is used for the purposes of relieving mild pain but does not reduce inflammation. On the other hand, over the counter NSAIDS such as ibuprofen reduce both inflammation and pain (Ahmed & Omer, 2014).
Age is one of the major patient factors that have proved to affect the epidemiological patterns of the disease (Loeser, 2013). For instance, older people have a likelihood of developing the disease as compared to non-elderly persons. On the other hand, age has to be factored in when it comes to issuing the above-mentioned classes of drugs. Aging is associated with various alterations that affect the normal body physiology and subsequently, increasing the risk of organ failure as well as the development of a myriad of complications. For instance, an overdose of acetaminophen is associated with liver damage (Verkleij et al., 2013). On the other hand, NSAIDS are associated with bleeding problems, cardiovascular diseases and stomach upset. There is thus an accentuation to provide adequate patient information, especially on dosage adherence and monitoring adverse effects of drugs.
In the event of an overdose of acetaminophen or adverse drugs effects of NSAIDS, it is pretty important for a patient to contact a physician as soon as possible in order for proactive medical interventions to be undertaken.
References
Ahmed, S. S., & Omer, N. (2014). Factors influencing Compliance to Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in Osteoarthritis Elderly Patients and Effects of compliance on Disability in Qena Governorate. Egyptian Journal of Community Medicine, 32(2).
Berenbaum, F. (2013). Osteoarthritis as an inflammatory disease (osteoarthritis is not osteoarthrosis!). Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 21(1), 16-21.
Hochberg, M. C., Altman, R. D., April, K. T., Benkhalti, M., Guyatt, G., McGowan, J., & Tugwell, P. (2012). American College of Rheumatology 2012 recommendations for the use of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies in osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee. Arthritis care & research, 64(4), 465-474.
Loeser, R. F. (2013). Aging processes and the development of osteoarthritis.Current opinion in rheumatology, 25(1), 108.
Loeser, R. F., Goldring, S. R., Scanzello, C. R., & Goldring, M. B. (2012). Osteoarthritis: a disease of the joint as an organ. Arthritis & Rheumatism,64(6), 1697-1707.
Verkleij, S. P., Luisterburg, P. A., Koes, B. W., Bohnen, A. M., & Bierma-Zeinstra, S. M. (2013). PC0001 Effectiveness of diclofenac versus acetaminophen in primary care patients with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized clinical trial. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 71(Suppl 3), 723-723.
