Rational Use of Analgesic and Antiinflammatory Drugs

“Take two aspirin and call me in the morning”? Clinical decision making is no longer so straightforward. Millions of patients take analgesic and antiinflammatory medications regularly. The reasons are simple: these drugs are effective in relieving pain and inflammation,1 and aspirin provides protection from cardiovascular thrombosis.2,3 Osteoarthritis and other painful chronic conditions occur in a population of patients who often have coexisting medical conditions, including conditions associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Thus, aspirin is frequently prescribed for patients taking other analgesic and antiinflammatory agents. Since the mechanism of action of all these drugs is the inhibition . . .