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Several medication options are available to treat knee pain, including over-the-counter drugs, prescription options, and injections. Share on PinterestHolly Clark/StocksyKnee pain can start slowly and gradually worsen over time. The medication a person takes to treat knee pain will depend on the cause and severity of the pain. There are many potential causes of knee pain, including:overusearthritisBaker’s cystinfection in the jointbursitistorn cartilagestrain or sprain This article looks at the best medication for knee pain, home remedies, prevention of knee pain, and when to contact a doctor. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs People may treat mild to moderate knee pain with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen. NSAIDs relieve inflammation and help with pain management. Some types of NSAIDs are available OTC to treat mild to moderate pain. OTC NSAIDs include ibuprofen, available under brand names such as Motrin and Advil, and naproxen sodium, available under the brand name Aleve. Dosage An adult can take ibuprofen at 800–1,200 milligrams (mg) per day. For naproxen sodium, the daily dose should not be more than 1,375 mg. A person should follow the instructions on the medication guide and never exceed the recommended daily dose. Precautions NSAIDs may increase the risk of stroke or heart attack, which may occur suddenly. These risks may be even higher in people who:smokehave previously had a heart attack or strokehave diabetes or high cholesterol Doctors also associate NSAIDs with a risk of ulcers and holes and bleeding in the intestine and stomach. These risks may be higher for people who drink alcohol frequently, are older adults, or have other health conditions. The risks associated with NSAIDs may increase for people who take the medication for a long time. NSAIDs may also interact with certain medications, including:other NSAIDsanticoagulants, such as warfarinoral steroids, such as prednisoneselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine and citalopramserotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as duloxetine Read on for the differences between SSRIs and SNRIs. Potential side effects NSAIDs such as naproxen may cause side effects, which can include:diarrheabloating and gasconstipationringing in the earsdizzinessdrowsinessnervousness People should speak with a medical professional to discuss the potential side effects of NSAIDs. Acetaminophen Acetaminophen is an analgesic or pain reliever that also reduces fever. Some people take acetaminophen to reduce pain caused by osteoarthritis, a type of arthritis that affects the joints, including the knee. People also take acetaminophen to relieve other mild to moderate pain. Examples of medications that contain acetaminophen include:PanadolTylenolActaminFeverAll Dosage The maximum amount of acetaminophen a person should take in one dose is 1,000 mg. A person should not take more than 4,000 mg per day. Precautions If a person takes too much acetaminophen, there is a risk of liver damage. This may be severe, require a liver transplant, or be fatal. Potential side effects Possible side effects include:rashitchinghivesswelling in the:tonguefacethroatanklesfeetlegsblistering or peeling skindifficulty swallowing or breathinghoarseness People should speak with a doctor if they experience these symptoms after taking acetaminophen. Prescription medications A person may require stronger medication for more severe pain, which a doctor can prescribe. These may include higher dosage NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors, also called coxibs. Examples of prescribed NSAIDs include:high dose ibuprofenhigh dose naproxendiclofenac (Voltaren) Examples of coxibs include celecoxib (Celebrex) and etoricoxib. A person can take these medications as tablets orally or apply them to the knee as a gel or cream. Dosage According to the National Library of Medicine, the maximum daily dose of each medication is:ibuprofen: 2,400 mgnaproxen: 1,000 mgnaproxen sodium: 1,375 mgdiclofenac: 150 mgcelecoxib: 400 mgetoricoxib: 60 mg Precautions People who take NSAIDs or coxibs are at risk of gastrointestinal problems. There is a greater risk of complications if a person:drinks alcohol frequentlytakes corticosteroidstakes SSRIstakes blood thinning medicationtakes several anti-inflammatory pain relief medications togetherhas had stomach bleeding or gastritishas gastrointestinal conditions, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitishas a bacterial infection with Helicobacter pylori, which can cause ulcersis 65 years or older Potential side effects Side effects of prescription NSAIDs and coxibs may include:indigestion and stomach paingas and bloatingulcersconstipationgastritissore throatdizzinesscold symptoms If a person experiences any of these symptoms and is at high risk, they should consult a medical professional. Injections for knee pain If a person has severe pain from injury or illness, such as arthritis, a doctor may administer an injection to treat the pain. Doctors may recommend hydrocortisone or hyaluronic acid injections. Hydrocortisone injection This type of injection is a corticosteroid. A doctor may administer a hydrocortisone injection directly into the knee joint. This medication can treat knee pain from various causes, including injury, arthritis, and bursitis. The injection helps reduce swelling and pain and makes movement easier. Dosage A person may be able to have injections in the knee up to four times a year. The dosage can vary between 5 mg and 50 mg of hydrocortisone. Precautions Hydrocortisone may not be suitable for people who:have an infectionhave or have had depressionhave been in recent contact with a person who has:measlesshingleschickenpoxhave recently had vaccinations or are having vaccinations soonare pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to become pregnant Hydrocortisone may also cause complications in people who have:high blood pressurediabetesosteoporosisglaucomaunhealed wounds People should speak with a doctor about the injections’ potential risk factors and complications. Potential side effects Side effects of hydrocortisone injections may include pain and swelling at the injection site and bruising. Serious side effects include:signs of infection such as:feverchillssore throatear or sinus paindepression or mood swingspuffy face or weight gain in the upper belly or backswelling and throbbing in the legs or armschest painconfusion and sleepinesschanges to vision A person can speak with a medical professional if experiencing any of the side effects described above. Hyaluronic acid A doctor may inject hyaluronic acid into the knee to increase the supply of the acid. This can help relieve pain and may improve other symptoms of conditions that affect the knee joint, such as osteoarthritis. Dosage Depending on which hyaluronic acid a doctor uses, they may administer one to five injections over several weeks. Precautions If a person is pregnant or breastfeeding, they should let a doctor know before starting this medication. People should also inform a doctor if they develop an infection in the knee or a skin problem. Potential side effects Side effects of hyaluronic acid injection may include pain and swelling at the injection site and difficulty moving the knee immediately after the injection. These symptoms are usually temporary, and applying ice helps ease the pain. Less common side effects include:bleedingblisteringburning or coldnessdiscoloration of skinhives or rash joint infectioninflammationitching or stinginglumpsnumbness and tinglingredness, soreness, and tendernessulceration and warmth at the injection site People should seek medical attention if they experience mild or more severe reactions. Home remedies for knee pain Knee pain may sometimes go away on its own. If the pain is not severe, a person may be able to treat it at home by:putting as little weight as possible on the kneeavoiding standing for a long timeusing an ice pack on the knee for up to 20 minutes every 2–3 hourstaking acetaminophen Learn more about the home remedies for knee pain. Preventing knee pain To help prevent knee pain, a person can:balance rest and exercisemaintain a moderate body weightwear suitable footwear with arch supports When to contact a doctor A person should contact a doctor about knee pain if:the pain is severethere is swelling in the kneethere is no improvement after a weekthere is no movement the knee cannot bear weightthe knee locks or buckles Summary The medication a person receives for knee pain can depend on the cause and severity of the pain. A person may take OTC medication for mild to moderate pain, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. If the pain is more severe, a person may require medication prescribed by a doctor, such as a higher dose of NSAID or COX-2 inhibitors. A doctor may sometimes administer injections and inject hydrocortisone or hyaluronic acid into the affected area. A person can also treat knee pain at home by resting, raising the knee, and applying ice. Last medically reviewed on August 5, 2022Pain / AnestheticsDrugs 17 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Acetaminophen. (2022).https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a681004.htmlAitken, P., et al. (2019). An integrated safety analysis of combined acetaminophen and ibuprofen (Maxigesic/Combogesic) in adults.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6371943/Brutzkus, J. C., et al. (2022). Naproxen.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525965/Celecoxib. (2021).https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a699022.htmlHydrocortisone injections. (2020).https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hydrocortisone-injections/Ibuprofen. (2022).https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682159.htmlKnee pain. (2021).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/knee-pain/Mazaleuskaya, L. L., et al. (2015). PharmGKB summary: Ibuprofen pathways.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4355401/Naproxen. (2022).https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a681029.htmlOsteoarthritis. (2017).https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/osteoarthritisOsteoarthritis of the knee: Which painkillers are effective? (2021).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544987/Patient fact sheet: Hyaluronic acid. (2018).https://www.rheumatology.org/Portals/0/Files/Hyaluronic-Acid-Fact-Sheet.pdfSports injuries. (2021).https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sports-injuriesUsing medication: The safe use of over-the-counter painkillers. (2020).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361006/Viscosupplementation treatment for knee arthritis. (n.d.).https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/viscosupplementation-treatment-for-knee-arthritis/What is knee pain? (n.d.).https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/knee-pain/When knee pain may mean arthritis. (n.d.).https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/about-arthritis/where-it-hurts/when-knee-pain-may-mean-arthritisFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm.D. — By Caitlin Geng on August 5, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? 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