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Ibuprofen works wonders for your headaches, joint pain, muscle aches, and menstrual cramps, so it's probably no surprise that it's the second most common over-the-counter (OTC) drug behind paracetamol (Tylenol), according to a 2023 article https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36876700/ in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. You might get a prescription for ibuprofen if you have rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis to reduce the pain and swelling from these conditions. Ibuprofen might also be used for psoriatic arthritis, arthritis of the spine, and gouty arthritis. Like other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ibuprofen works by blocking an enzyme that makes prostaglandins that cause...

A new study has confirmed the effectiveness of JAK inhibitors in treating rheumatoid arthritis. The Japanese multicenter, retrospective study found high remission and low disease activity rates among patients, with the majority continuing treatment. This success highlights the potential of JAK inhibitors as a favorable alternative to conventional treatments, which often lead to reduced effectiveness and discomfort over time. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A new study published in the journal Rheumatology reveals that JAK inhibitors, commonly used to treat arthritis patients, are indeed effective. Despite initial concerns about their effectiveness, this multicenter, retrospective study conducted by Japanese researchers has shown impressive remission rates...

A large study of women with rheumatoid arthritis has found that those taking oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) had a greater chance of achieving remission. The study revealed the following: Pre-menopausal women (those still experiencing a regular menstrual cycle) reported fewer RA symptoms than peri-menopausal (irregular or infrequent periods) or post-menopausal women with RA. RA patients using HRT or oral contraceptives in combination with the drugs prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis had a much greater likelihood of remission. Post-menopausal women, comprising 63% of the participants, of whom only 8% were using HRT, were less likely to achieve RA remission...

Initiating early treatment benefits patients who have not fully developed rheumatoid arthritis, but who are manifesting preliminary stages of the disease, researchers have reported. By temporarily prescribing methotrexate in the "pre-rheumatic phase," patients suffer from reduced long-term joint inflammations, pain and physical limitations. "At present, methotrexate is only prescribed to the patient following a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis," explains Annette van der Helm, Professor. "But that is too late. By then, the disease is already considered chronic." The researchers hope to prevent or reduce disease burden by giving methotrexate to patients likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Although early treatment did not...

Study of older adults is 'first direct evidence' of protection against rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, other conditions In a new study, investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital found the people who took vitamin D, or vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, had a significantly lower rate of autoimmune diseases — such as rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, autoimmune thyroid disease, and psoriasis — than people who took a placebo. With their findings published Wednesday in BMJ, the team had tested this in the large-scale vitamin D and omega-3 trial (VITAL), a randomized study which followed participants for approximately five years. Investigators found...

Researchers from the University of Toledo have discovered a prospective new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. The vaccine-based treatment strategy proved successful in preliminary animal studies and the researchers are looking to conduct more clinical trials in the future. The research hinges around a protein called 14-3-3 zeta. Ritu Chakravarti, lead author on the new study, has been studying 14-3-3 zeta for several years due to its suspected role in a number of autoimmune conditions. The initial hypothesis was this protein played a significant role in the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. If it was triggering the disease then knocking out the...

Investigators at the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research have discovered a surprising new role for tumor necrosis factor (TNF): namely, that it is a major regulator of small blood vessel function, the key determinant of blood pressure. The study is published online today in Nature Communications. TNF has long been tied to inflammation, giving rise to the use of anti-TNF medications for chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and IBS. Now, after years of studying TNF's cell signaling functions in the vascular system, researchers found that TNF directly impacts how the smallest arteries constrict - and thus...

Drinking Alcohol Cuts Risk Of Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis In Half, Study Suggests ScienceDaily (Jun. 5, 2008) — Alcohol cuts the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis by up to 50%, reveals research published ahead of print in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. The Scandinavian researchers base their findings on more than 2750 people taking part in two separate studies, which assessed environmental and genetic risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis. Over half the participants (1650) had the disease and had been matched for age, sex, and residential locality with randomly selected members of the general public. All participants were quizzed about...

Vegan diet 'help' for arthritis Meat was off the menu for half of those in the study group Rheumatoid arthritis patients may be able to reduce their high risk of heart attacks and strokes with a gluten-free, vegan diet, a study suggests. Heart attacks and strokes are among the leading causes of death for sufferers, as the inflammation caused by the disease impacts upon the arteries. But an Arthritis Research and Therapy study found those who pursued a vegan regime had less "bad" cholesterol. By clogging arteries, this is seen as a key risk factor for heart problems.Rheumatoid Arthritis affects...

Twelve cases reported in California, CDC officials say ATLANTA - Drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases have been linked to tuberculosis cases in California, U.S. health officials said on Thursday Twelve Californians who had taken the anti-inflammatory drugs Remicade (infliximab) or Enbrel (etanercept) tested positive for TB between January 2002 and August 2003, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two of those infected died after undergoing treatment for TB, a lung disease that is spread by coughing and close personal contact and usually cured with antibiotics. Remicade, marketed by Johnson &...