Selecting nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: pharmacologic and clinical considerations

An increasing number of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are available to treat a variety of conditions. There exist little comparative data examining efficacy for all NSAIDs for a particular illness. The major factors governing selection of these agents relate to the patient's condition and the drug's characteristics. Once efficacy has been established, selection of an NSAID is then determined by side-effect profile, potential for drug interactions, dosing frequency, and cost. This review presents a listing of commercially available NSAIDs, cost comparisons for average daily doses of NSAIDs, and the conditions and drug characteristics that might influence the choice of an NSAID.