Medications - Scientific References

Reviewed by Greg Jaroszynski MD, FRCSC | Last updated May 2026

Acetaminophen (Paracetamol)

Cepeda MS, Camargo F, Zea C, Valencia L. Tramadol for osteoarthritis: a systematic review and metaanalysis. J Rheumatol. 2007;34(3):543-55. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17295438/
da Costa BR, Reichenbach S, Keller N, et al. Effectiveness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of pain in knee and hip osteoarthritis: a network meta-analysis. Lancet. 2016;387(10033):2093-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30002-2
Machado GC, Maher CG, Ferreira PH, et al. Efficacy and safety of paracetamol for spinal pain and osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo controlled trials. BMJ. 2015;350:h1225. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h1225
Zhang W, Moskowitz RW, Nuki G, et al. OARSI recommendations for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis, Part II: OARSI evidence-based, expert consensus guidelines. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2008;16(2):137-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2007.12.013

Bannuru RR, Schmid CH, Kent DM, et al. Comparative effectiveness of pharmacologic interventions for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(1):46-54. https://doi.org/10.7326/M14-1231
Conaghan PG, Arden N, Arden NK, et al. Summary and recommendations of the OARSI FDA osteoarthritis Assessment of Structural Change Working Group. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2011;19(5):606-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2011.02.018
Richy F, Bruyere O, Ethgen O, et al. Structural and symptomatic efficacy of glucosamine and chondroitin in knee osteoarthritis: a comprehensive meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163(13):1514-22. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.163.13.1514
Schnitzer TJ, Hochberg MC, Marrero CE, et al. Efficacy of tanezumab in patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis pain: a 16-week randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2020;28(6):775-783. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2020.03.011

Cannon GW, Schmid CH, Patterson BC, et al. Meta-analysis of oral or topical NSAIDs for osteoarthritis. J Rheumatol. 2016;43(7):1322-9. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.151446
Derry S, Conaghan P, Da Silva JA, et al. Topical NSAIDs for chronic musculoskeletal pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;4:CD007400. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007400.pub2
Laslett LL, Jones G. Capsaicin for osteoarthritis pain. Prog Drug Res. 2014;68:277-91. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-0828-6_11
Mason L, Moore RA, Edwards JE, et al. Topical NSAIDs for chronic musculoskeletal pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2004;5:28. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-5-28

Chou R, Turner JA, Devine EB, et al. The effectiveness and risks of long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain: a systematic review for a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(4):276-86. https://doi.org/10.7326/M14-2559
da Costa BR, Nüesch E, Kasteler R, et al. Oral or transdermal opioids for osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(9):CD003115. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003115.pub4
Krebs EE, Gravely A, Nugent S, et al. Effect of opioid vs nonopioid medications on pain-related function in patients with chronic back pain or hip or knee osteoarthritis pain: the SPACE randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2018;319(9):872-882. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.0899
Nüesch E, Rutjes AW, Husni E, et al. Oral or transdermal opioids for osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(4):CD003115. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003115.pub2

Chappell AS, Ossanna MJ, Liu-Seifert H, et al. Duloxetine, a centrally acting analgesic, in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis knee pain: a 13-week, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Pain. 2009;146(3):253-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2009.07.029
Chappell AS, Desaiah D, Liu-Seifert H, et al. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and safety of duloxetine for the treatment of chronic pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee. J Pain Res. 2011;4:33-41. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S16247
O'Connor AB, Dworkin RH. Treatment of neuropathic pain: an overview of recent guidelines. Am J Med. 2009;122(10 Suppl):S22-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.04.007
Senftleber NK, Nielsen SM, Andersen JR, et al. Marine oil supplements for arthritis pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Nutrients. 2017;9(1):42. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9010042

Clegg DO, Reda DJ, Harris CL, et al. Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and the two in combination for painful knee osteoarthritis. N Engl J Med. 2006;354(8):795-808. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa052771
Rumore MM, Szeinbach SL. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate: what has been learned since the Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial. Drug Dev Res. 2013;74(8):515-22. https://doi.org/10.1002/ddr.21105
Sawitzke AD, Shi H, Finco MF, et al. The effect of glucosamine and/or chondroitin sulfate on the progression of knee osteoarthritis: a report from the glucosamine/chondroitin arthritis intervention trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2008;58(10):3183-91. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.23973
Wandel S, Jüni P, Tendal B, et al. Effects of glucosamine, chondroitin, or placebo in patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee: network meta-analysis. BMJ. 2010;341:c4675. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c4675

Bruyère O, Honvo G, Veronese N, et al. An updated algorithm recommendation for the management of knee osteoarthritis from the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO). Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2019;49(3):337-350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2019.04.008
Henrotin Y, Marty M, Mobasheri A. What is the current status of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis? Maturitas. 2014;78(3):184-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.04.015
Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020;72(2):220-233. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.41142
Singh JA, Noorbaloochi S, MacDonald R, Maxwell LJ. Chondroitin for osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(1):CD005614. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005614.pub2