Osteoarthritis of the spine and peripheral joints is a common problem that was previously encountered only by older people. Recently, the disease has begun to affect young people aged 25-30 years. Osteoarthritis brings significant discomfort and is accompanied by pain. In the absence of proper treatment, it causes significant restrictions in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system, impairs joint mobility, reduces motor activity and quality of life. To protect the musculoskeletal system, chondroprotective and chondrostimulating drugs are recommended, which include the drug Artra®. The drug not only effectively fights the disease, but also eliminates the causes that led to the disease.
Component composition of Arthra and its pharmacological action
The instructions contain the following components of the medication:
- chondroitin;
- glucosamine;
- MCC;
- octadectanoic acid;
- magnesium stearate;
- calcium hydrogen phosphate;
- croscarmellose sodium.
The medicine is produced in tablets with a protective film coating, packaged in polyethylene jars. The packaging additionally contains instructions from the manufacturer.
Artra is a regulator of regenerative processes:
- Exogenous glucosamine - enhances the production of cartilage elements, protects them from various damage by chemicals. The element is used for the production of glycosaminoglycans in the body and has an anti-inflammatory spectrum of action.
- Chondroitin is a secondary nutrient for cartilage. With its help, the production of hyaluronan and proteiglycans is activated, and the aggressive effects of free radicals are suppressed. The ingredient acts as a stimulator of repair mechanisms in cartilage, reduces the activity of enzymes responsible for the breakdown of cartilage tissue. The element provides the necessary indicators of synovial viscosity.
If the patient has osteoarthritis and takes the drug, the symptoms of the pathology are relieved and the need for NSAID therapy is reduced.
Stimulates the regeneration of cartilage tissue
The main part of synovial fluid is chondroitin sulfate. The component is produced by the human body, playing an important role in the normal functioning of the skeletal system. But as the disease progresses, the amount of chondroitin in the joint fluid is greatly reduced. In the absence of outside help, dystrophic changes in the joints become irreversible. The combination drug Artra® contains a sufficient amount of substances necessary for:
- regulation of metabolic processes in cartilage cells;
- normalization of calcium deposition in bones;
- synthesis of hyaluronic acid.
Once in the body when using the drug, chondroitin sulfate quickly exhibits an active effect, slowing down the processes of destruction of cartilage tissue, preventing excessive loss of calcium from joints and bone tissues.
Chondroitin helps strengthen ligaments and tendons. The component has a strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. The substance activates metabolism, inhibiting the destructive effects of enzymes on joints. As a result of taking Artra®, restoration and strengthening of cartilage and tendons and bone tissue regeneration are observed. Under the influence of chondroitin, the functional mobility of the joint capsule increases. Acting as one of the main components of synovial fluid, chondroitin sulfate improves its properties, inhibiting degeneration processes, restoring the normal cartilaginous surface of the joints.
Adverse reactions
Therapeutic procedures can cause non-standard responses in the body. Glucosamine, which is part of Arthra, causes dyspeptic disorders, active gas formation, discomfort in the epigastric region, diarrhea or constipation.
Secondary side effects include:
- attacks of dizziness;
- insomnia and drowsiness during the day;
- cephalgia, swelling in peripheral tissues;
- allergic reactions with redness of certain areas of the skin, dermatological rash, obsessive itching;
- accelerated heartbeat.
In some cases, chondroitin causes the development of individual intolerance to the drug. If non-standard symptoms appear, the patient should consult a doctor and describe in detail the changes in the condition and the main manifestations.
Protects joints from negative effects
The second active ingredient in the drug, the combined chondroprotector Artra®, is glucosamine hydrochloride, which promotes the resumption of enzymatic processes in the joint, prevents the development of pathological changes in the joints, restores motor function and increases the pain threshold.
As a result of taking the drug, other functions of glucosamine can be traced. The substance protects cartilage tissue from the negative effects of chemicals that enter the body with other drugs. For serious diseases of the spine and joints, doctors prescribe various medications to relieve pain and swelling, but many of them have side effects in the form of decreased performance of cartilage. Glucosamine protects cartilage tissue from the negative effects of chemicals.
With a lack of glucosamine, even under normal conditions, the synthesis of chondroitin in the body is significantly reduced. A deficiency of the substance manifests itself in the form of a characteristic crunch in the joint area, deformation of cartilage, and activation of inflammatory processes. As a result of taking Artra®, normal synthesis of chondroitin is ensured, and there is an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect on the joints.
The combination of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine allows you to achieve a complex effect for joint diseases. Pain is reduced, inflammatory processes are slowed down, so it is possible to reduce the amount of other anti-inflammatory drugs or completely stop taking them. Slowing down dystrophic and degenerative processes in bone tissue, joints and cartilage gradually leads to a noticeable improvement in their condition.
To achieve the maximum effect from the drug, it is necessary to take the medicine correctly, in a course. The instructions for Arthra® contain a detailed diagram of the use of the drug.
Basics of Arthra Therapy
The instructions emphasize that in the first 21 days from the start of treatment, the drug is taken one tablet twice a day. Subsequent treatments are reduced to one tablet daily and can last several months.
The medication is used to treat patients over 15 years of age; the therapeutic effect obtained and the absorption rates of Arthra components are not related to the time of day or meals. Obtaining sustainable therapeutic results requires prolonged manipulation over one half year.
As a secondary drug to improve the condition of the musculoskeletal region, patients are prescribed Arthro-Active. The daily dosage of capsules varies from 4 to 6 pieces. Treatment lasts 2-4 weeks, followed by a two-week break and resumption of manipulations.
The abstract does not indicate any reported cases of accidental drug overdose. In theory, the drug can provoke adverse reactions when taking a large number of tablets. In this case, the patient will be prescribed symptomatic therapy.
Materials and methods
As part of the study, we assessed the effectiveness, tolerability and safety of the drug ARTRA MSM compared with the drug ARTRA in patients with knee OA when taken continuously for 4 months. The study included 100 sick men and women aged 45-75 years with significant (according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology) Kellgren-Lawrence stage II-III knee OA, with pain when walking >40 mm (according to VAS). Patients were examined monthly, the dynamics of the WOMAC index, the “get up and walk” test, the effectiveness of therapy according to the doctor and the patient, and quality of life were assessed using the EQ-5D questionnaire.
Patients were randomized into 2 groups. Group M ( n
=50) received ARTRA MSM according to the regimen: 2 tablets per day in the 1st month, then 1 tablet per day, group A (
n
=50) - ARTRA according to the same regimen. Group A included 47 women and 3 men, the right CS was conditionally accepted as the target in 70% of cases, the 2nd radiographic stage was observed in 88%. Concomitant diseases were present in 84% of patients. Group M consisted of 49 women and 1 man, the right CS was conditionally accepted as the target in 72% of cases, the 2nd radiographic stage was diagnosed in 78%, concomitant diseases in 88% of patients.
Before the start of therapy, both groups were comparable in age, duration of illness, body mass index and pain according to VAS (see table). All 100 patients completed the study. There were no deviations from the protocol. The calculation was carried out on a single population of recruited patients (50 in each group). The study recorded only one adverse event - constipation in a patient from group M, which was not the reason for interruption or cancellation of therapy.
Comparative characteristics of the examined patients before treatment* Note. * — average values are indicated. BMI - body mass index.
Manufacturer's instructions
The abstract draws attention to certain nuances:
- combination with anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents increases their spectrum of action;
- combination with tetracyclines – activates their absorption;
- taken together with penicillins reduces their effectiveness.
The drug should not be used simultaneously with glucocorticosteroids or anti-inflammatory drugs.
If during therapeutic procedures the patient experiences undesirable reactions from the digestive tract, then the dosage needs to be adjusted. The doctor should reduce the number of tablets. Lack of improvement requires discontinuation of the medication.
Analogs
Non-standard manifestations of treatment require a revision of the prescribed regimen. The list of popular analogues of Arthra is presented:
- Arthrom MSM Forte, KONDROnova Tazan, Teraflex;
- Chondroflex, Chondroglyuksid, Adgelon;
- Alflutop, Biartrin, Gamma-plant;
- Discus Compositum, Synovial, Traumeel S;
- Rumalaya, Tselyu T, SINOART, Chondrotek Forte.
Substitutes are selected by the attending physician after undergoing a repeated laboratory diagnostic examination. The cost of analogues starts from 295 rubles, which allows you to choose an inexpensive and effective product.
Results and discussion
Analysis of the results allowed us to establish a significant reduction in pain according to VAS in both groups (see figure, a). A decrease in pain intensity was noted by the end of the 1st month of therapy and persisted throughout the entire observation period. There were no differences between groups in WOMAC pain scores across visits.
Dynamics of pain assessment according to WOMAC (a) “get up and walk” test (b) and during treatment with ARTRA MSM and ARTRA.
Both drugs reduced stiffness after just 1 month of therapy; There were no differences in the dynamics of morning stiffness between the groups.
In terms of their effect on the functional state of the joints and the total WOMAC index, both drugs gave similar results: a decrease in indicators was noted in both groups from the second visit. The improvement was maintained in all components of the WOMAC index throughout the entire course of therapy, and the differences found within the groups were statistically significant.
Analysis of the “get up and go” test (time spent getting up from a chair and walking 5 m) showed a significant decrease in the time spent in both groups, however, in group M these differences reached statistical significance already on the second visit, and in group A - only on the third. Changes in this test already from the second visit in group M indicate a more rapid action of ARTRA MSM (see figure, b). This is confirmed by assessments of the effectiveness of treatment carried out by the patient and the doctor. These assessments, which were practically different and reflected a more rapid onset of a positive effect in group M: “significant improvement” and “improvement” were noted by 60% of patients already at the second visit, while in group A - only 38% of patients ( p
=0.02). From the third visit, there were no differences in the effectiveness of treatment between the groups.
When assessing EQ-5D, positive results were also obtained: a significant improvement in these indicators was observed from the third visit in both compared groups.
Tolerability of the drugs was very good, there were practically no adverse events.