​Knee Osteoarthritis (OA Knee) Treatment: Medication

Paracetamol ​is one of the common medication used to treat knee osteoarthritis (OA knee).

​Information is provided by the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth group.

Medication to treat knee osteoarthritis (OA knee)​

Diclofenac

Purpose: Relieve pain and reduce swelling or inflammation

Common side effects: Stomach pain/heartburn, upset stomach or nausea, signs of bleeding like throwing up blood or vomitus that looks like coffee grounds; coughing up blood; blood in the urine; black, red, or tarry stools; bleeding from the gums; vaginal bleeding that is not normal; unexplained bruising or bruising that gets bigger; or any excessive or uncontrollable bleeding (rare, but potentially dangerous)

Glucosamine

Purpose: Help lessen osteoarthritic pain and keep cartilage healthy

Common side effects: Stomach gas (bloating gas), nausea

Naproxen

Purpose: Relieve pain and reduce swelling or inflammation

Common side effects: Stomach pain/heartburn, upset stomach or nausea, signs of bleeding like throwing up blood or vomitus that looks like coffee grounds; coughing up blood; blood in the urine; black, red, or tarry stools; bleeding from the gums; vaginal bleeding that is not normal; unexplained bruising or bruising that gets bigger; or any excessive or uncontrollable bleeding (rare, but potentially dangerous)

Paracetamol

Purpose: Relieve pain

Common side effects: Skin rash, hypersensitivity reaction (rare)

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Ref: L20

Other osteoarthritis articles you may be interested in:

Osteoarthritis: What You Need to Know

Osteoarthritis Prevention: What You Can Do 

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