ABSTRACT
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce pain and inflammation and inhibit platelet aggregation. The drugs inhibit cyclo-oxygenase (COX), the enzyme that converts arachidonic acid into prostaglandins. The lowering of the prostaglandin levels is responsible for the pain relief and reduction in inflammation, but also causes the side-effects. A systematic review of 38 placebo-controlled trials found that NSAIDs increased the mean diastolic blood pressure by 5.0mmHg. Adverse effects on renal and liver function are listed, as well as oedema, blood dyscrasias, tinnitus, skin rashes and a host of others listed individually for each drug. Some NSAIDs are more likely to cause problems than others. Ibuprofen is normally quoted as the baseline with which the other drugs are compared. Clinical Evidence found no evidence to show that NSAIDs were more effective than simple analgesics in the treatment of acute musculoskeletal conditions.
