The best thing to take for arthritis depends on which type you have. Osteoarthritis, the wear-and-tear kind, is primarily managed with pain relievers and lifestyle changes. Rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory types require prescription medications that calm the immune system to prevent joint damage. Most people with arthritis use some combination of over-the-counter pain relief, targeted supplements, and medical treatments tailored to their symptoms.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
For mild to moderate osteoarthritis pain, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a common starting point. It works well for people who need occasional relief and can’t tolerate anti-inflammatory drugs, but it does nothing for swelling. Staying within the recommended dose is critical because excess acetaminophen causes liver damage.
NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) are generally more effective for arthritis because they reduce both pain and inflammation. Taken at standard doses, they provide reliable short-term relief. The tradeoff comes with long-term use: high doses of ibuprofen and diclofenac increase the risk of a major cardiovascular event (heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death) by roughly one third, translating to about 3 extra heart attacks per year for every 1,000 patients treated. Chronic NSAID use also raises the risk of stomach ulcer bleeding by two to four times, depending on the specific drug and dose.
Topical NSAIDs, applied as creams or gels directly over the affected joint, deliver anti-inflammatory relief with far less systemic exposure. They work best for joints close to the skin’s surface, like hands and knees, and are a practical option if you want to limit the risks that come with swallowing these drugs daily.
Prescription Medications for Inflammatory Arthritis
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or another autoimmune form, pain relievers alone aren’t enough. These conditions involve an immune system that attacks healthy joint tissue, causing progressive damage. The goal of treatment is to suppress that overactive immune response before it destroys cartilage and bone.
Traditional disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs) broadly dial down the entire immune system. Methotrexate is the most commonly prescribed and often the first one doctors try. Other options include hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, and leflunomide. These drugs don’t relieve pain overnight. They typically take weeks to months to reach full effect, but they can slow or stop joint destruction when taken consistently.
Biologic medications are a newer class that targets specific parts of the immune system rather than suppressing it broadly. Some block a protein called tumor necrosis factor that drives inflammation. Others target different immune messengers or specific types of immune cells. Biologics are typically prescribed when traditional DMARDs haven’t worked well enough on their own, and they’re given by injection or infusion. A related category, called JAK inhibitors, works on a similar principle but comes in pill form.
Steroid Injections
Corticosteroid injections deliver a powerful anti-inflammatory directly into a painful joint. Relief can be significant and may last weeks to months, making them useful for flare-ups or when a single joint is particularly problematic. However, repeated injections may damage cartilage over time, so doctors typically limit how often you receive them. The exact frequency depends on which joint is involved and how you respond, but this is not a treatment designed for regular, ongoing use.
Supplements With Evidence Behind Them
Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, has the strongest supplement evidence for arthritis. Turmeric spice itself contains only 2% to 9% curcumin, while concentrated supplements contain up to 95%. The Arthritis Foundation recommends 500 mg of curcumin extract twice daily to help manage symptoms of both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. At that dose, studies show meaningful improvements in pain and stiffness for many people.
Glucosamine and chondroitin have a more complicated reputation. Despite decades of popularity, the American College of Rheumatology does not recommend glucosamine for knee osteoarthritis, and a recent network meta-analysis confirmed that the classic glucosamine-plus-chondroitin combination does not produce clinically significant pain relief in mild to moderate cases. Interestingly, glucosamine combined with omega-3 fatty acids did show a large, sustained effect on pain reduction compared to placebo, suggesting the omega-3 component may be doing much of the heavy lifting.
Omega-3 fatty acids on their own are well-established inflammation fighters. Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines, and herring are the richest food sources, but fish oil supplements are a reasonable alternative if you don’t eat fish regularly.
CBD: Popular but Unproven
About 29% of people with arthritis have tried CBD, according to an Arthritis Foundation poll, mostly in liquid or topical form. Users commonly report improvements in sleep, physical function, and general well-being. Notably, though, only a minority report meaningful improvement in pain or stiffness specifically.
The clinical evidence is thin. A randomized trial of topical CBD for osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis found it performed no better than placebo. Other studies are small, short-term, or survey-based. CBD is generally considered safe, though it can cause lightheadedness, sleepiness, dry mouth, and in rare cases liver problems. If you have an inflammatory form of arthritis and you’re taking prescription medications that protect your joints, those should not be replaced with CBD.
Dietary Changes That Reduce Inflammation
What you eat daily shapes your body’s baseline level of inflammation, which directly affects how your joints feel. An anti-inflammatory eating pattern centers on fatty fish, colorful vegetables and fruits, nuts, olive oil, and whole grains. These foods supply omega-3s, antioxidants, and fiber that collectively lower inflammatory markers throughout the body.
On the other side, processed foods, refined sugars, and excess red meat tend to promote inflammation. You don’t need a rigid meal plan. Shifting the balance toward more whole foods and fewer processed ones over time can produce noticeable changes in joint stiffness and pain, particularly for people with inflammatory arthritis types where systemic inflammation plays a central role.
Matching Treatment to Your Type of Arthritis
The distinction between osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis matters more than any single treatment choice. Osteoarthritis is a mechanical problem: cartilage wears down, bones rub, joints hurt. Treatment focuses on managing pain, maintaining mobility, and slowing further breakdown through exercise, weight management, and targeted pain relief.
Inflammatory arthritis is an immune system problem. Pain relief alone lets the disease silently destroy joints. The priority is getting immune-suppressing medication started early, ideally within months of diagnosis, to prevent irreversible damage. Pain management layers on top of that foundation but never replaces it.
For either type, physical activity remains one of the most effective interventions available. Low-impact exercise like walking, swimming, and cycling strengthens the muscles around joints, improves range of motion, and reduces pain over time. It works alongside every medication and supplement on this list, and unlike any of them, it carries essentially no risk of side effects.