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Is Nuocoxia helpful for ankylosing spondylytis?

Dr Mathew Varghese
Head, Department of Orthopaedics,
St. Stephens Hospital,
New Delhi

Q: I am a 36 years old patient of ankylosing spondylitis for the last 9 years. At present I am taking Ayurvedic treatment since I did not get any relief from allopathy and homeopathy. But my pain at L 3 level and around the hips/waist still persists. My doctor has advised me to take Nuocoxia-90 with the Ayurvedic medicines. This pain killer (Nuocoxia-90) really gives me 90% relief for 50 hours, i.e. 1 tablet for 2-3 days. I want to know whether this pain killer has any side effects if I take it regularly?

A:Ankylosing spondylites treatment depends on the activity of the disease. At present you are only taking a pain killer with relief. Nuocoxia is an anti-inflammatory medicine which does have long term side effects. I do not recommend that you keep on taking it. You must get your blood profile to look at the sediment rate (ESR) to see the activity of the disease. There are clinical signs of activity also. In case the disease is active, you can have relief by taking disease modifying drugs. Drugs like Sulfasalazine in doses of 2-3 gm per day and Methotrexate in doses of 10-25 mg per week have been shown to be of modest benefit in patients having symptoms in the limbs. In addition, there are good reports with the use of anti-TNF alfa therapy in ankylosing spondylites. Infliximab which is a variety of anti-TNF alfa has been used successfully to substantially relieve symptoms of ankylosing spondylites. However, the treatment is expensive and there are specific indications and contra indications. The decision to have such treatment should be taken only in consultation with Rheumatologist. I think you should get in touch with one before deciding to continue Nuocoxia.