Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: indications for use

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most widely used of all therapeutic agents. Although they are effective analgesics they do have significant adverse side-effects. Before treatment is started the prescriber should always weigh efficacy against possible side-effects. NSAIDs vary in their selectivity for inhibiting the two types of cyclo-oxygenase. An NSAID should therefore be chosen on the basis of the incidence of associated side-effects.