Medicines for arthritis are divided in following categories :

• Steroids : to be avoided in infective arthritis.
• Non steroid (NSAIDS = Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs) : useful for relief of pain and inflammation irrespective of the cause of arthritis. Most commonly used medicines.

Disease Modifying Medicines

They are anti malarial agents, anti cancer agents etc. Mainly used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Specific Medicines

• For conditions like gout.
• Anti tuberculous medicines for tuberculous arthritis.
• Antibiotics for Infective arthritis.

Dietary supplements

They are substances of unproven efficacy, mainly used in early stages of arthritis, are supposed to reduce the cartilage degeneration

• Glucosamine
• Chondroitin

Hyaluronidase injections

Classified as "Device" by US FDA. They are supposed to induce the joint lining to increase the secretion of lubricating fluid. One needs to take 3 to 5 injections at weekly interval in the affected joint