Anti Inflammatory Drugs for Back Pain

In this article we’ll discuss the use of anti inflammatory drugs for back pain. More specifically, we’ll review a common form of these drugs, NSAIDs, and how they’re used to treat back pain.

What are NSAIDs?

Non-steriodal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are designed to block specific enzymes in the body that, among other things, promote inflammation¹. While inflammation can be an important healing function in the body, it can also cause pain.

The first portion of the name (non-steroidal) is used to differentiate these drugs from steroids. While steroids can be used to treat inflammation (among other things) they can also have severe side effects. Non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, on the other hand, can often provide similar relief without many of the side effects of steroids².

As an alternative to oral medications, there are also topical anti-inflammatory creams available which can reduce the risk of some side effects.

What are NSAID Drug Names?

NSAIDs are a family of drugs available from a variety of manufacturers. NSAID is a broad term and these drugs can be broken down into different groups, depending on the exact enzyme they target in the body. Some of the more common groups (and some brand names they are manufactured under) are listed below.

Ibuprofen (ie: Advil, Motrin)
Naproxen (ie: Aleve, Midol)

NSAIDs can also be purchased in over the counter or prescription strengths.

When NSAIDs Shouldn’t Be Used

Before we talk about the use of anti inflammatory drugs and back pain we should first review who shouldn’t be using NSAIDs. As with all drugs, NSAIDs come with a risk for certain side effects. Some of the most common side effects¹ associated with NSAIDs are:

nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
constipation
decreased appetite
rash
dizziness
headache
drowsiness

In addition, NSAIDs can result in issues associated with:

kidney
liver
ulcers
excessive bleeding after an injury or surgery

As a result of the possible side effects listed above, people with the following conditions should avoid using these drugs³:

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
history of gastrointestinal (GI) issues
ulcers
kidney disease
hypertension
Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
coronary artery disease
congestive heart failure
history of heart attack or stroke
those in their 3rd trimester of pregnancy

It’s always best to check with your doctor prior to starting any new drug regimen. This is also true for anti inflammatory drugs for back pain.

Best Medicine for Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common types of pain suffered by Americans. But, back pain can be caused by many different things. As a result, there’s no one best medicine for back pain. To understand the best medicine for your back pain you must first understand the source of your pain. (If you are experiencing chronic back pain and haven’t discussed it with your doctor, now may be the time to do so.)

That being said, a doctor’s first recommendation will often be non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs for back pain⁴. According to a study by the Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine:

“NSAIDs are effective for short-term symptomatic relief in patients with acute low back pain.”