However, this group of drugs has a high incidence of side effects with prolonged use and caution should be exercised. These drugs also inhibit prostaglandin synthesis in the gastric mucosa and may thus produce gastric bleeding as a side effect. Care should be exercised when using these drugs in patients with asthma or impaired renal function. The incidence of side effects and adverse reactions with an individual drug is similar regardless of the route of delivery. Ibuprofen is the drug of choice if the oral route is available.
Alternatives are diclofenac, naproxen, piroxicam, ketorolac, indomethacin and mefenamic acid.
Where the oral route is not available the drug may be given by another route such as suppository, injection or topically.