The best thing to take for arthritis depends on which type you have. For osteoarthritis, oral anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen) are the most effective first-line option, reducing both pain and improving joint function in the hands, knees, and hips. For rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory types, you’ll need disease-modifying drugs that slow the immune system’s attack on your joints. Beyond medication, supplements like fish oil and curcumin have genuine (if modest) evidence behind them, and dietary changes can lower inflammation body-wide.
Oral NSAIDs for Osteoarthritis
NSAIDs are the go-to for osteoarthritis pain because they tackle inflammation directly, not just mask pain. Ibuprofen, naproxen, and prescription-strength options like diclofenac all work within hours, though a full trial takes a few weeks to a month. The American College of Rheumatology recommends using the lowest effective dose for the shortest time possible.
That “shortest time” caveat matters. A major analysis from Oxford found that high-dose ibuprofen and diclofenac increase the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death by about one third. In practical terms, that translates to roughly 3 extra heart attacks per year for every 1,000 patients on high doses, one of which is fatal. The risk of stomach ulcer bleeding also rises two to four times, depending on the specific drug and dose. These risks are manageable for short courses but become a real concern when you’re taking NSAIDs daily for months or years.
If NSAIDs aren’t an option for you, acetaminophen (Tylenol) can provide some short-term relief, though it doesn’t reduce inflammation. Duloxetine, an antidepressant that also dampens pain signaling, is another alternative your doctor may consider.
Topical Treatments Worth Trying
Rubbing an anti-inflammatory gel directly onto an arthritic joint delivers the drug where you need it while largely avoiding the stomach and heart risks of oral NSAIDs. Topical diclofenac is the most studied option for hand and knee osteoarthritis. In Cochrane reviews covering over 2,000 participants, about 60% of people using topical diclofenac for 6 to 12 weeks got meaningful pain relief, compared to 50% on placebo. That gap is real but modest: roughly 1 in 10 people get substantial benefit specifically from the drug rather than the placebo effect.
Capsaicin cream, made from chili peppers, works differently. It depletes the chemical that nerve endings use to send pain signals. It burns at first, but that fades with consistent use over a week or two. Topical treatments work best on joints close to the skin surface, like knees, hands, and feet, and less well for deeper joints like hips.
Medications for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is fundamentally different from osteoarthritis. Your immune system is attacking your joint lining, so pain relief alone won’t stop the damage. Disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs) are essential, and starting them early preserves joint function long-term.
Methotrexate is typically the first drug prescribed. It broadly suppresses the overactive immune response and starts working in 4 to 6 weeks. Hydroxychloroquine takes longer, usually 2 to 4 months, and is often combined with methotrexate for a stronger effect. Sulfasalazine and leflunomide are other options in the same category, each taking 4 to 12 weeks to kick in.
If traditional DMARDs aren’t enough, biologic drugs target specific parts of the immune system. TNF inhibitors are the most commonly used biologics and can produce improvement in as little as 2 to 4 weeks, with continued gains over 3 to 6 months. Other biologics target different immune cells or proteins and typically take 4 to 12 weeks to show results. The key point: these drugs don’t just relieve symptoms. They slow or stop the joint destruction that makes rheumatoid arthritis progressive.
A newer class called JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib) offers an oral alternative to injectable biologics. However, the FDA now limits their use to patients who haven’t responded to TNF inhibitors, after clinical trials showed higher rates of heart attack, stroke, blood clots, and certain cancers compared to TNF inhibitors. The cancer risk was roughly 48% higher, with particular concern around lymphoma and lung cancer in current or past smokers.
Fish Oil and Omega-3s
Fish oil is one of the few supplements with consistent evidence for joint inflammation. The catch is dosage: most over-the-counter capsules contain 300 to 500 mg of combined EPA and DHA, but the doses that actually lower inflammatory markers in studies are above 2,600 mg per day. At those levels, fish oil reduces C-reactive protein (a blood marker of inflammation) and quiets several inflammatory immune pathways.
If you’re going to try fish oil, look at the EPA and DHA content on the label, not the total fish oil amount. You’ll likely need several capsules daily to reach an effective dose. Keep intake below 3,000 mg per day if you take blood thinners or aspirin, since fish oil has a mild blood-thinning effect.
Curcumin and Turmeric
Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, has genuine anti-inflammatory properties. Clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis have tested doses ranging from 40 mg to 500 mg daily over 8 to 12 weeks, and a meta-analysis in Frontiers in Immunology found that doses above 250 mg per day produced the best results for joint pain and swelling.
Plain turmeric powder from your spice rack won’t cut it. Curcumin is poorly absorbed on its own, so look for formulations designed for better absorption: nanomicelle versions, those combined with piperine (black pepper extract), or hydrogenated curcuminoid preparations. These were the types actually used in the clinical trials showing benefit.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin
These are probably the most popular joint supplements, but the evidence is frustratingly mixed. Two large two-year trials directly contradict each other. An Australian study of 605 people found that glucosamine and chondroitin taken together slowed joint space narrowing in the knee, suggesting some structural protection. A similar U.S. study of 572 people found no difference between the supplements and placebo.
For hip osteoarthritis, a study of 222 participants found glucosamine was no better than placebo for pain, function, or joint structure. The overall picture from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: the effects on joint structure are uncertain, and results vary study to study. Some people report subjective improvement, but if you’ve been taking these for a few months without noticing a difference, continuing likely won’t change things.
Diet and Inflammation
What you eat daily can either fuel or dampen the chronic low-grade inflammation that drives arthritis symptoms. The pattern that consistently shows benefit is straightforward: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, nuts, seeds, and olive oil. The antioxidants in brightly colored produce (tomatoes, carrots, squash, broccoli) neutralize molecules that damage cells and promote inflammation. Fiber from whole grains and legumes, polyphenols from berries, tea, dark chocolate, and coffee, and omega-3s from fatty fish all contribute independently.
On the other side, ultra-processed foods appear to alter gut bacteria, damage the intestinal lining, and activate inflammatory genes in cells, according to a 2025 report in the journal Nutrients. You don’t need to follow a rigid named diet. The core principle is simple: eat whole, unprocessed foods and minimize packaged products with long ingredient lists.
How Long Before You Feel Results
One of the most frustrating aspects of arthritis treatment is the waiting period. Here’s a realistic timeline for common options:
- Oral NSAIDs: hours for initial relief, 2 to 4 weeks for full effect
- Topical NSAIDs: days to weeks, with consistent use needed for 6+ weeks
- Methotrexate: 4 to 6 weeks
- Hydroxychloroquine: 2 to 4 months, sometimes up to 6
- TNF inhibitors (biologics): 2 to 4 weeks initially, continued improvement over 3 to 6 months
- Fish oil: several weeks at adequate doses
- Curcumin: 8 to 12 weeks in clinical trials
If a treatment hasn’t produced noticeable improvement within its expected window, that’s useful information. It means it’s time to adjust the dose, switch approaches, or add a complementary strategy rather than simply waiting longer.