From the Popular Press: What Your Patients are Reading

After reviewing more than 65 studies that followed over 11,000 patients with low back pain, researchers have concluded that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are no more effective a pain treatment than acetaminophen. While NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen provided slight short-term relief for patients with acute and chronic low back pain, there was no significant benefit to using NSAIDS over acetaminophen or simple analgesics. Long-term treatment with NSAIDs has been associated with various cardiovascular problems, including angina pectoris, heart failure, and myocardial infarction. Since acetaminophen has fewer side effects than NSAIDs, it should be the primary treatment option for low back pain.

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