Trends in medication use for osteoarthritis treatment.

Abstract

The decline in the use of NSAID from 1989 to 1998, especially among elderly patients, and the frequent selection of safer medications may reflect awareness of the literature citing the risks of nonsteroidals for OA. However, variations in prescribing patterns among different patient populations and the modest use of acetaminophen, despite evidence supporting its efficacy, suggest that better assimilation of the literature into medical practice is needed to optimize OA therapy.