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The following charts
are divided into categories with examples of some of the most commonly
prescribed drugs for arthritis and related conditions, along with possible
interactions between these drugs and others, including the kind you buy without
a prescription. Because of the sheer volume of drugs that can be prescribed, all
possible drug interactions cannot be listed. So if your drugs are not listed
here, don't assume they're free from interactions. Check with your doctor or
pharmacist.
Analgesics
|
NSAIDs
| Corticosteroids
| Fibromyalgia Meds
|
DMARDs
| Gout Meds
| Osteoporosis Meds
Analgesics
|
IF YOU TAKE THESE COMBOS... |
THIS MIGHT HAPPEN |
|
Propoxyphene + carbamazepine |
increased risk of body spasms,
convulsions, fast or irregular heartbeat, low or high blood pressure |
|
Narcotic analgesics +
naltrexone |
no pain relief |
|
Analgesics + tricylic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil)
or doxepin (Adapin) |
increased risk of side effects
of both drugs, including drowsiness and weakness |
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NSAIDs
(Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)
|
IF
YOU MIX NSAIDs WITH... |
THIS MIGHT HAPPEN |
|
Corticosteroids |
increased risk of stomach
ulcers |
|
Warfarin (Coumadin) |
increased risk of bleeding |
|
Diuretic medications |
increased risk of fluid
retention and high blood pressure |
|
Antihypertensives |
reduced effectiveness of
antihypertensives |
|
Lithium |
increased risk of muscle
weakness, irregular pulse, slurred speech |
|
Methotrexate |
increased risk of liver damage |
|
Cyclosporine |
possible kidney toxicity |
|
IF
YOU TAKE THESE COMBOS |
THIS MIGHT HAPPEN |
|
Aspirin and other
salicylate-type NSAIDs + probenecid |
decreased effectiveness of
probenecid |
|
Any two NSAIDs |
increased risk of stomach
ulcers |
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Corticosteroids
|
IF YOU MIX
CORTICOSTEROIDS WITH... |
THIS MIGHT HAPPEN |
|
Insulin or oral diabetes
medications |
decreased effectiveness of
diabetes drugs |
|
Antacids or growth hormones |
decreased effectiveness of
those drugs |
|
Antacids, diuretics or seizure
medications, such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin)
and primidone (Mysoline) |
decreased effectiveness of
corticosteroids |
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Fibromyalgia Meds
|
IF YOU MIX TRICYCLIC
ANTIDEPRESSANTS WITH... |
THIS MIGHT HAPPEN |
|
Thyroid medications or ulcer
medications |
increased risk and frequency of
side effects of the thyroid or ulcer medications |
|
Monoamine oxidase (MAO)
inhibitors, such as phenelzine sulfate (Nardil) or tranylcypromine
sulfate (Parnate) |
risk of sudden high body
temperature, extremely high blood pressure, severe convulsions and death |
|
IF YOU TAKE SELECTIVE
SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS (SSRIs) WITH... |
THIS
MIGHT HAPPEN |
|
The
antihistamine astemizole (Hismanal) |
increased risk of a serious
heart rhythm abnormality |
|
Monoamine oxidase (MAO)
inhibitors |
risk of sudden high body
temperature, extremely high blood pressure, severe convulsions and death |
|
IF YOU TAKE THESE COMBOS... |
THIS MIGHT HAPPEN |
|
Amitryptiline (Elavil)
or doxepin (Adapin) + amphetamines, appetite suppressants or asthma
or cold medications |
risk of heart damage |
|
Fluoxetine (Prozac) and
sertraline (Zoloft) + other antidepressants |
increased risk of constipation,
dizziness, drowsiness, trembling or shaking |
|
Zolpidem (Ambien) +
monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors |
risk of sudden high body
temperature, extremely high blood pressure, severe convulsions and even
death |
|
Benzodiazepines + fluvoxamine (Luvox),
itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral) or
nefazodone (Serzone) |
increased risk of dizziness,
drowsiness and lightheadedness |
|
Zaleplon (Sonata) +
carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin) or primidone
(Mysoline) |
increased effects, including
drowsiness |
|
Gabapentin (Neurontin) +
antacids |
decreased effectiveness of
gabapentin |
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DMARDs
(Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs)
|
IF YOU MIX METHOTREXATE WITH... |
THIS MIGHT HAPPEN |
|
Sulfonamides, such as
sulfamethoxazole and phenazopyridine (Azo Gantanol) and sulfamethoxazole
and trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra) |
increased risk of liver
problems, low blood counts or malaise |
|
NSAIDs, aspirin or other
salicylate medications |
increased levels of
methotrexate |
|
Penicillin |
increased risk of intestinal
toxicity |
|
Probenecid |
high levels of methotrexate in
the bloodstream |
|
IF YOU TAKE THESE COMBOS... |
THIS MIGHT HAPPEN |
|
Gold preparations, such as
auranofin + penicillamine (Cuprimine). |
increased risk of such as
abdominal pain or upset, headache, sensitivity to sunlight, skin rash |
|
Azathioprine (Imuran) +
allopurinol |
increased risk of liver
problems, low blood cell counts, malaise |
|
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
+ probenecid (Benemid) or sulfinpyrazone (Anturane) |
decreased effectiveness of
gout medications |
|
Cyclophosphamide + antithyroid,
antifungal or antiviral medications |
decreased effectiveness of
those other medications |
|
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune,
Neoral) + hormonal medications allopurinol (Zyloprim) or
cimetidine (Tagamet) |
increased risk of high blood
pressure, kidney problems, trembling and shaking |
|
Cyclosporine + lovastatin (Mevacor)
or simvastatin (Zocor) |
increased risk of muscle and
kidney problems |
|
Cyclosporine + amiloride (Midamor)
or triamterene |
high blood levels of
potassium |
|
Sulfasalazine + acetaminophen (Tylenol),
male or female hormones, lovastatin (Mevacor) and pravastatin (Pravachol)
or carbamazepine (Tegretol) |
increased risk of liver
damage |
|
Sulfasalazine + oral diabetes
medications or blood-thinning medications |
increased risk of side
effects of those other medications |
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Gout Meds
|
IF YOU TAKE THESE COMBOS... |
THIS MIGHT HAPPEN |
|
Allopurinol (Zyloprim) +
blood-thinning medications |
increased bleeding risk |
|
Allopurinol + immunosuppressive
drugs, such as azathioprine (Imuran) or mercaptopurine (Purinethol) |
greater risk of side effects
from the immunosuppressive drug, including serious infection |
|
Colchicine + immunosuppressive
drugs, such as cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), azathioprine (Imuran)
or methotrexate |
increased risk of serious
infection |
|
Probenecid (Benemid,
Probalan) + aspirin or other salicylate medications |
decreased effectiveness of
probenecid |
|
Probenecid + NSAIDs or
blood-thinning drugs |
increased risk of serious
side effects from those drugs |
|
Sulfinpyrazone (Anturane)
+ blood-thinning drugs or other sulfa-containing drugs, such as celecoxib
(Celebrex), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) or sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) |
increased risk of serious
side effects from those drugs |
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Osteoporosis Meds
|
IF YOU TAKE THESE COMBOS... |
THIS MIGHT HAPPEN |
|
Alendronate (Fosamax) +
aspirin or aspirin - containing products |
problems (or worsening of
problems) with the esophagus, stomach or intestines |
|
Estrogen medications +
acetaminophen (Tylenol), antithyroid medications; antimalarial
drugs or seizure medications divalproex (Depakote) and valproic
acid (Depakene) |
increased risk of liver damage |
|
Estrogen medications +
cyclosporine |
increased risk of liver or
kidney problems |
|
Raloxifene hydrochloride (Evista)
+ cholesterol drug cholestyramine (Questran) |
reduced effectiveness of
cholestyramine |
|
Raloxifene + warfarin (Coumadin) |
reduced effectivness of
warfarin |
|
Teriparatide (Forteo) +
blood pressure medication furosemide (Lasix) |
increased calcium levels in
blood, potentially causing damage to the heart, kidneys and other internal
organs |
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The above opinionated
views and information serves to educated and informed consumer . The
information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or
for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. .It should not replaced
professional advise and consultation. A licensed physician should be
consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions
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