Page 67 - Retail Pharmacy Magazine October 2020

Ms Marine says the crisis around opioids reverts “to some extent” to the failure of effective pain management services in Australia, including the management of the pain that comes with osteoarthritis. “This is because there’s still much defeatism around osteoarthritis, with the myth being that it’s an inevitable affliction as people get older and that there’s not much that can be done about it,” she said. “However, that’s not the case. Therefore, encouraging people to more proactively manage the condition is very important. To do this, we have a lot of information and available resources to help manage osteoarthritis on our website.” Proactive osteoarthritis management Ms Marine underscores that osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, with more than two million people in Australia living with the condition. Many myths surround it, the main one being that it’s caused by wear and tear, she says. “As research into the condition advances, it’s clear that’s not the full story,” she said, “and certainly not the case. In fact, osteoarthritis is now known to be a breakdown in the repair processes of a joint. “The joints are always repairing themselves. Sometimes that process can get overwhelmed by an injury or perhaps by repeated overuse, and that’s what causes a problem. And it’s not just cartilage that’s affected, but the whole joint, including the bone, and all ligaments and muscles – so our understanding of osteoarthritis is improving. “And I guess that’s really important because one of the mainstays of managing osteoarthritis is actually exercise. That seems counterintuitive, with the normal conclusion being that ‘I’d better not use my joints so I can preserve them for longer’. “That’s exactly the wrong message, as physical activity is imperative for better health outcomes, with specific exercises strengthening joints and counteracting muscle wasting. This needs to be underscored by pharmacists, as many HEALTH BONES AND JOINTS 65 people are still not getting it.” She cites a number of reviews that have highlighted the benefits of physical activity for patients with osteoarthritis being equivalent to those from non- steroidal anti-inflammatories. “Well, that’s quite a significant pointer as to the importance of exercise as a management strategy – obviously, keeping in mind that many will use painkillers or anti-inflammatories to help relieve the pain so that they can exercise,” Ms Marine said. Regardless of how people get to it, Ms Marine emphasises that the first line of treatment for the management of osteoarthritis is physical activity, weight loss and a short trial of paracetamol. “And it doesn’t have to be huge weight loss: just a loss of five to 10 per cent of body weight can make for a significant improvement in symptoms,” she said. “In fact, every extra kilogram of weight a person carries can add an extra 4kg of pressure to their weight bearing joints. That means a substantial reduction in pressure if a person loses just 3kg to 5kg.” TO PAGE 66 NEW Diclofenac potassium 25mg 30 soft capsules Inflamax Liquid Caps 25 is the newest product to join the expanding Inflamax muscle pain relief range and is now available to pharmacies alongside the unique Inflamax Spray, 4% w/w diclofenac spray AVAILABLE NOW VIA ALL MAJOR WHOLESALERS To order or find out more, contact your Arrow or Apotex Sales Representative directly or call 1300 927 769 www.inflamax.com.au INFLAMAX SPRAY: ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST, TALK TO YOUR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. INFLAMAX LIQUID CAPS 25: ASK YOUR PHARMACIST – THEY MUST DECIDE IF THIS PRODUCT IS RIGHT FOR YOU. INCORRECT USE COULD BE HARMFUL. Arrow Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd. 15-17 Chapel Street Cremorne Victoria 3121. Ph 1300 927 769. ABN 33 605 909 911. Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved. www.arrowpharma.com.au RETAIL PHARMACY • OCT 2020