The anti-gout medication methotrexate may reduce pain and stiffness in the knees due to osteoarthritis, a study published in the journal Neurology has shown. Annals of Internal Medicine (AIM).
The study included 130 patients with knee osteoarthritis, which manifested itself as pain and was confirmed by X-rays. All were given regular painkillers, while half were prescribed methotrexate once a week. The other half received a placebo, a drug with no active ingredient, to counteract the effects of self-hypnosis.
After six months, the mean self-reported pain score in the methotrexate group decreased from 6.4 to 5.1, and in the placebo group, from 6.8 to 6.2. Patients in the methotrexate group also showed significant improvement in knee mobility.
“Further studies are needed to find the optimal dose of methotrexate and whether it works better in systemic inflammation. It also needs to be evaluated whether widespread use of methotrexate would be cost-effective, the authors noted.
Previous doctors in the name expensive and unnecessary procedures for people with knee osteoarthritis.