Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents: an update

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) provide potent analgesic, anti-inflammatory activity as a result of their inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. They are highly bound to plasma proteins and have half-lives that vary from two hours to more than 24 hours. While gastrointestinal reactions are well known, the renal and hepatic toxicities of NSAIDs have only recently been characterized. Elderly patients in general may be at risk of toxicity and should be evaluated frequently.