Help Your Arthritis Treatment Work.The Food and Drag Administration, or FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. , is part of the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. government. It is FDA's job to make sure medicines for arthritis and other illnesses work and are safe. Ease the Pain, Help Prevent More Damage Arthritis can strike at any age. It hurts the joints, where two bones meet. It damages the joints and makes them stiff and painful. Sometimes it's so bad it can cripple crip·ple n. One that is partially disabled or unable to use a limb or limbs. v. To cause to lose the use of a limb or limbs. a person. Correct treatment can ease the pain and help prevent more damage. You can help your treatment work. This booklet tells how. If Your Joints Have Signs of Arthritis, Talk To Your Doctor If you have arthritis, the doctor may prescribe pre·scribe v. To give directions, either orally or in writing, for the preparation and administration of a remedy to be used in the treatment of a disease. a medicine for you or tell you to use a medicine you buy without a prescription, like aspirin aspirin, acetyl derivative of salicylic acid (see salicylate) that is used to lower fever, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and thin the blood. Common conditions treated with aspirin include headache, muscle and joint pain, and the inflammation caused by rheumatic . You may need to take more than one medicine. Joints With Arthritis May Have: * swelling * warmth * redness * pain Before Taking New Medicine, Ask Your Doctor About It Ask: * How should I take this medicine? * Are there any special instructions? * What side effects Side effects Effects of a proposed project on other parts of the firm. could there be? * If I have any side effects, what should I do? * What should I do if I forget to take a dose? If you took the medicine before and it caused problems, tell the doctor. Tell the doctor if you are taking other medicines. And ask if you should keep taking them. Read the Label Of Medicine You Buy Without a Prescription Like arthritis medicine, many medicines for headaches or colds or flu have pain killers in them. Some common pain killers are aspirin, acetaminophen acetaminophen (əsēt'əmĭn`əfĭn), an analgesic and fever-reducing medicine similar in effect to aspirin. It is an active ingredient in many over-the-counter medicines, including Tylenol and Midol. , ibuprofen ibuprofen (ī`by  prō'fən), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that reduces pain, fever, and inflammation. , ketoprofen, and naproxen naproxen and naproxen sodium, potent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) used to alleviate the minor pain of arthritis, menstruation, headaches, and the like, and to reduce fever. . So before you buy any medicine, read the label to see what's in it. Does it have a pain killer? If it does, ask your doctor or pharmacist pharmacist /phar·ma·cist/ (fahr´mah-sist) one who is licensed to prepare and sell or dispense drugs and compounds, and to make up prescriptions. phar·ma·cist n. if it's OK for you to take it. Too much of the same type of medicine can hurt you. Be Careful With Medicine Never take any medicine for arthritis without your doctor's advice. Never take someone else's medicine. Keep all medicine away from children. Throw out medicine that reaches its "Discard" or "Exp" (expiration EXPIRATION. Cessation; end. As, the expiration of, a lease, of a contract, or statute. 2. In general, the expiration of a contract puts an end to all the engagements of the parties, except to those which arise from the non- fulfillment of obligations created ) date. Remember: There can be problems with any medicine, even those you can buy without a prescription. Rest and Exercise You may need extra rest when your arthritis gets worse, or flares up. But even then, it's good to gently exercise the joints that hurt. Gentle exercise can ease the pain and help you sleep better. Ask your doctor how to exercise your joints. Learn About Your Arthritis It helps to learn about your arthritis. Many people do this by joining a group with other people who have the disease. To find a group, look in the newspaper. Or ask your doctor or the hospital. The local Arthritis Foundation This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. office has information, too. Remember: Never take someone else's medicine. Watch Out for 'Cures' That Don't Work Some people with arthritis can't find any treatment that helps very much. That's why there are so many ads for gadgets, health foods, and supplements to treat arthritis. Many of these have never been tested. They're just a waste of money. Before taking a product, always ask your doctor or health- care worker. Protect Yourself With the Facts Pain and stiffness often come and go by themselves, for no known reason. You may use an untested product and then feel better. But you may have felt better even without the product. There is no cure for arthritis. But correct treatment can ease pain and stiffness. If you use worthless products, you delay real help. So the damage gets worse. Remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't true. What If Correct Treatment Doesn't Help? If all else fails, an operation might help. Talk about this with your doctor. Do You Have More Questions About an Arthritis Treatment? Ask your doctor or other health-care worker. And ask FDA. There may be an FDA office near you. Look for the number in the blue pages of the phone book. Or, write a letter to: FDA HFE- 88 Rockville, MD 20857 Do You Want Other Free FDA Brochures? For free single copies of any of the following brochures, write to FDA, HFE- 88, Rockville, MD 20857. Include your name, address, and the publication titles and numbers. Keep Your Food Safe (FDA) 97-2234 The Truth About Choosing Medical Treatments (FDA) 96-1248 Use Medicine Safely (FDA) 93-3201 Eating for a Healthy Heart (FDA) 96-2302 Losing Weight Safely (FDA) 96-1247 Protect Your Child from Poisons in Your Home (FDA) 96-1262 Spanish-language brochures: ??Goce de Buena Salud Proteja los Alimentos! (FDA) 95-2234S Sea Cuidadoso Al Escoger Los Tratamientos Medicos (FDA) 96-1248S Las Medicinas Como Usarlas Con Confianza (FDA) 96-3201S Department of Health and Human Services Noun 1. Department of Health and Human Services - the United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with health and welfare; created in 1979 Health and Human Services, HHS Food and Drug Administration 5600 Fishers Lane (HFI- 40) Rockville, MD 20857 April 199 7 Publication No. (FDA) 96-1270 |
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