Should we use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs?

Both the relative efficacy and inefficacy of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) contribute to their use in chronic rheumatic diseases. There are also sociological trends in patients, and in the population as a whole, increasing demand for treatment. In view of the risks of such treatment, the most rational approach to prescribing would be the use of a scientific risk-benefit analysis. Unfortunately, the data, especially those related to symptom relief, are inadequate for such an analysis. Until more meaningful figures are produced, good clinical practise concentrates on the responsibilities of physicians who both start and stop drugs, and makes it essential that strategies to minimize risk are produced.