2001 Arthritis Drug Guide Gives More Treatment Options

January 31, 2001

Monday January 29 1:56 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - With all of the arthritis drugs available,

how does a consumer make the right choice? The Arthritis Foundation

suggests using its 2001 Drug Guide--a ''one-stop source for all you need

to know about medications used to treat arthritis and related

conditions.''

``Over the past couple of years there have been a plethora of new

arthritis drugs and therapies on the market...but there are so many of

them and the information is so confusing,'' Mc, editor of

Arthritis Today told Reuters Health in an interview. ``The purpose of

the guide is to pull all of this information on arthritis drugs together

in one place.''

The guide is published in a supplement to the Foundation's Arthritis

Today magazine. Now in its 4th edition, the guide includes a

comprehensive list of hundreds of prescription drugs with information on

recommended dosage, side effects, and special instructions about when

and how to take particular medications. In addition, a ``Be Aware''

column lists possible drug hazards and a ``Cautions'' column lists

allergies and other pre-existing conditions that may ``raise a red

flag'' for one's physician, leading him or her to alter the dosage or

change one's medication entirely.

``The Arthritis Foundation has always urged people to be self-managers,

to learn as much as they can about their arthritis and to make wise

decisions, certainly in conjunction with the medical practitioners that

they see,'' Mc said. ``The Drug Guide gives them a tool to be

effective self-managers and to be active participants in their medical

care.''

Previously published every 2 years, the guide has recently changed to an

annual schedule due to rapidly increasing numbers of arthritis

medications, she added.

To obtain a copy of the free drug guide, contact the Arthritis

Foundation at 1-800-283-7800 or visit the organization's Web site at

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