Non-narcotic pain meds

Celebrex (brand name) is still available as a Cox-2 inhibitor for arthritis relief. Celebrex does come with a listing of serious possible side effects, so physicians tend to be reserved in offering it (a chemically similar Cox-2 inhibitor, Vioxx, was pulled by the FDA after a string of adverse effects were reported). Celebrex can be immensely helpful for some people in easing inflammation and bone-in-bone pain.

Bextra (brand name) is another Cox-2 inhibitor. It has a better safety profile than Celebrex.

Elavil (brand name) is an older class medication (tri-cyclic antidepressant) that is oft used to ease GI pain sensitivity (it binds to receptors in the intestinal tract, among other places). It also promotes sleep and can be helpful in re-establishing restorative sleep. Elavil has a long, established track record and is an over-all safe choice.

Lomotil (brand name) can ease intestinal spasms that accompany irritable bowel disorder.

Anti-inflammatory agents are plentiful. It is often a process of successive trials to find the optimal anti-inflammatory medication for a particular person. Relafen (brand name) is one anti-inflammatory used for diffuse arthritis that has a fairly low risk profile.
- Karen -