A Comprehensive Review on Management and Treatment of Arthritis Specially Emphasizing Treatment with Transdermal Patch

Abstract: Arthritis is one of the major inflammatory diseases and is a global issue. Arthritis is currently an utmost public health problem and it will further impact the life of the geriatric population. There are several types of arthritis such as Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Gout, and Fibromyalgia, which limit the mobility of the patient. In most cases, the reason for the disease is not known clearly and available treatment can reduce the symptoms but cannot cure it completely. Though Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids, and Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drugs (DMADRS) are the first-line treatments available in arthritis, gastrointestinal discomfort, low solubility, strong first-pass metabolism, low bioavailability, and systemic adverse reactions are the main drawbacks related to these drugs when used in long-term. Based on the evidence related to side effects of the current treatment methodology, several recent studies and developments have been designed and summarized in this field. From these studies, it has been observed that the transdermal drug delivery system can minimize the side effects associated with the oral dosage forms and can deliver the drug directly to the target site along with controlled and prolonged drug release. Hence, novel approaches in transdermal drug delivery systems like transdermal patches and microneedle therapy could be an alternative approach in the treatment and management of arthritis.