Is there a medication I can take for my arthritis that won't cause a skin rash?

The safest medication for osteoarthritis, which is the most common form of arthritis, is acetaminophen -- and rashes associated with this popular pain-relief medication (brand name: Tylenol) are very unusual.

Unless there's a history of liver disease or heavy drinking (more than one drink a day for women or two a day for men), it's generally safe to treat arthritis pain with acetaminophen every day, as long as the total drug dose isn't more than 3,000 milligrams (mg) per day. So, for instance, taking two 500 mg tablets three times a day might keep arthritis pain at bay and keep you within the recommended dosage range.

Acetaminophen is readily available over-the-counter, but it can be overwhelming to figure out which kind to purchase because of the vast range of choices on stock at the drugstore. Typically, I recommend generic, no-frills 500 mg tablets.

Another bonus with acetaminophen: It almost never interacts with other medicines. Its downside: It doesn't actually reduce the inflammation often associted with arthritis. Anti-inflammatory medications frequently used for osteoarthritis include ibuprofen (Advil) and naprosyn (Alleve). These over-the-counter drugs are part of a class of medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS. These meds are also unlikely to cause a skin rash.

But older adults should use caution when considering these medicines because there's a greater risk of stomach ulcers, impaired kidney function, and other significant side effects in seniors. For example, every year tens of thousands of Americans are hospitalized with life-threatening bleeding due to NSAIDS, and most of these people are older and/or frail. So discuss the pros and cons of this class of drugs with your doctor before adding NSAIDS regularly for arthritis pain.

In addition, you may have seen advertisements for arthritis drugs such as Celebrex and Bextra. These prescription pills are also NSAIDS, though they're designed to cause fewer stomach ulcers than over-the-counter NSAIDS. But they can still cause reduced kidney function and other side effects. Again, discuss any questions or concerns you may have about safety and efficacy with your doctor.

Finally, to wrap back to your original question, most meds used to treat arthritis don't lead to rashes. But just about any drug can cause a skin eruption in certain sensitive people. So if you notice a rash developing after you or a loved one start taking a new medication, seek medical advice promptly.