Medications for hip arthritis
Medicines do not reverse arthritis, but they can control pain enough to keep you moving and living well. Here is what helps, and what the evidence says about each option.
What medicines can and cannot do
No tablet or supplement rebuilds worn cartilage. The goal of medication is comfort: enough pain relief to stay active, sleep, and keep the hip moving. Staying strong and active does the long-term work. Any medicine should be checked against your other health conditions and prescriptions, so speak with your family doctor or pharmacist before starting something new.
By type
Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)Strongly recommended
for example ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib · tablets
These reduce both pain and inflammation and are the most effective everyday medicine for hip arthritis. National guidelines strongly recommend them when there is no reason you cannot take them. They can affect the stomach, kidneys, blood pressure, and heart, so they are used at the lowest helpful dose, for the shortest time that works, and with care if you have those concerns.
Anti-inflammatory gels (topical NSAIDs)
for example diclofenac gel · applied to the skin
Rubbed onto the skin over a sore joint, these put less medicine into the body than tablets, so they are gentler on the stomach and kidneys. They work best for joints close to the surface. The hip sits deep beneath muscle, so a gel reaches it less well than it reaches a knee or a hand. Some people still find it a useful add-on.
Acetaminophen (paracetamol)
for example Tylenol · tablets
A gentler pain reliever that is easy on the stomach and safe for many people. Its effect on arthritis pain is modest, and it helps some people more than others. It is often used alongside other measures, and the total daily dose needs to stay within safe limits, especially for the liver.
Duloxetine
a medicine that also calms pain signals · tablets
Better known as an antidepressant, duloxetine can also ease long-standing arthritis pain by acting on the nerves that carry pain. It is an option for some people, particularly when NSAIDs are not suitable. It takes a few weeks to work and needs a prescription and follow-up.
OpioidsGenerally avoided
for example codeine, tramadol, morphine
Strong pain medicines are not a good fit for the long-term pain of arthritis. The benefit is small, and the risks, including drowsiness, falls, and dependence, are real. They are avoided where possible, and used only briefly in specific situations.
Supplements
for example glucosamine and chondroitin
Widely sold and often tried, these have not been shown in good studies to reduce arthritis pain better than a dummy pill. They appear to be low risk. If you find one helps and it is safe with your other medicines, there is little harm in it, but it is fair to keep expectations modest.
- Recommendations reflect the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons clinical practice guideline, Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip (2023): oral NSAIDs strongly recommended.
This page is general information, not a prescription or personal medical advice. The right medicine, dose, and combination depend on your health and your other prescriptions. Please decide with your family doctor or pharmacist.