Easy-on-stomach arthritis drugs offer hope

Drug Store News, Feb 20, 1989 by Barbara White

Easy-on-stomach arthritis drugs offer hope

About 30 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 79 suffer from one of the most frustrating and misunderstood conditions: arthritis.

Dr. Ronald Kaye, a rheumatologist with the Palo Alto Medical Clinic, explained that there are 120 different types of arthritis. Some can be controlled very effectively, according to Dr. Kaye, and some are more elusive.

Unfortunately, arthritis patients face an additional problem. There aren't enough specialists to go around. "We just don't have enough specialists in the area or adequate dissemination of information among professionals," said Dr. Kaye.

Since there is no "cure" for any type of arthritis, it's easy for patients to fall prey to quack therapies or to become disillusioned when their therapy is not producing the desired results.

What results is a perfect environment for quackery. "Old wives' tales and quackery abound in this area," said Dr. Kaye. He estimates that $450 million is spent a year on quack arthritis treatments.

"Since the condition has its ups and downs, its easy for a patient to be fooled into thinking that a copper bracelet the patient is wearing or the honey the patient is eating is responsible for the good days," he said.

Even patients who are using prescription drugs under a physician's guidance are prone to switching therapies. Many of the drugs which reduce inflammation and ease pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cause other problems for patients. The drugs often cause gastric ulcers.

Clearly, the market is open. Any new therapies or products are eagerly awaited and are bound to be successful initially.

There are two new arthritis drugs that may offer patients new hope. Lederle Laboratories has received approval of Rheumatrex methotrexate for the treatment of rheumatiod arthritis (RA). Methotrexate, a cancer drug, has been shown to improve the symptoms of RA patients who haved failed on other therapies.

Cytotec, a synthetic prostaglandin, is G. D. Searle's answer to the gastric ulcers produced by NSAIDs. Searle representatives estimate that 13 million Americans with arthritis take prescription and non-prescription NSAIDS. Gastric ulcers are found in up to 25 percent of these patients. The availability of Cytotec should be good news for patients whose choice was to discontinue use of NSAIDS or risk potential harm.