One of the fun things about arthritis is the medicines. Some arthritis medications have side effects that are great, like getting rid of any arthritis pain. But some arthritis medications can have not so great symptoms, like apnea (where you stop breathing when asleep) or acidosis (where your blood becomes much too acidic). This is why it is so important to monitor your reactions to any new drug and to follow the directions very carefully. Because of side effects like dizziness, apnea, acidosis, arthritis medicines come in a very large family. You may have to try several medicines out before finding one that works best for you.

Apnea

Ahh, there's nothing like the sound of a roommate with apnea. Acidosis, arthritis and other conditions affect just the sufferer, but apnea is something to be shared with the entire household or dormitory. It sounds, much, much worse than snoring. It sounds like a rocket about to explode. Arthritis medicines like flurbiprofin and nabumatone, can sometimes relax a patient's neck muscles to the point where they press on the throat and cause apnea. This is especially a sign that you are taking too much of the medicine than your body can handle.

Acidosis, Acidosis…And Little Lambs Eat Ivy…

Acidosis is when your bodily fluids like your blood have too much acidity. This is usually due to poor diet, or a complication from another illness, but sometimes arthritis medicines may bring the condition on, as they often can affect your body’s chemistry. This is a serious condition that can affect every system of your body from balding to stomach bleeding. The apnea, acidosis, arthritis trio are conditions that get worse over time and do not go away on their own. Most likely, you will be given regular blood tests when started on new arthritis medications to check for developing acidosis.

Other Signs Of Arthritis Medicine Complications

The apnea, acidosis, arthritis trio are not the only signs of complications with arthritis medicines. Any strange rash, stomach upset, dizziness or headaches are also symptoms that your body just doesn't get along with your particular arthritis medication. This could lead to permanent liver or stomach problems if not treated. Be sure to follow the directions on your medicines. If a pill is to be taken with food, at least take it with a full glass of milk. And the apnea, acidosis, arthritis trio should remind you never to take more than the prescribed amount.