Table 6.

Strengths and weakness of tramadol/paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

	NSAIDs	Tramadol/paracetamol
Strengths	Frequently prescribed Ubiquitous Gold standard for many conditions: ibuprofen Well tolerated short term Over-the-counter availability	Recent combination of established analgesics with scientifically and clinically based rationale Good benefit–risk balance No specific warnings
Weaknesses	Recent warnings Safety profile (gastrointestinal, renal, and cardiovascular risks) Coadministration with other drugs	Combination therapy not well established Difficult to differentiate from tramadol immediate release, tramadol extended release Not well tolerated short term