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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Nov 1.
Published in final edited form as: Clin Geriatr Med. 2016 Nov;32(4):705–724. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2016.06.007

Table 3.

NSAIDs

Medication Indication Dosage Range Clinical Pearls
Ibuprofen
 (Motrin)
Mild-to-moderate
 pain
Consider reduced initial
 dosage in frailty
Renally adjust doses
200 mg 3–4 times per day;
 maximum daily dose of
 3200 mg; administer after
 meal; if longer term use
 (eg, >1 mo), GI protection
 recommended
  • Inexpensive

  • Side effects may be limited by using the lowest effective recommended dose for the shortest time possible

Celecoxib
 (Celebrex)
Mild-to-moderate
 pain
100–200 mg/d
  • More expensive than other NSAIDs

  • Higher doses associated with higher incidence of GI and CV side effects; patients with indications for cardioprotection require aspirin

  • Side effects may be limited by using the lowest effective recommended dose for the shortest time possible

Salsalate
 (Disalcid)
Mild-to-moderate
 pain
500–750 mg every 12 h;
 maximum daily dose of
 3000 mg
  • Does not interfere with platelet function; GI bleeding and nephrotoxicity are rare

  • Side effects may be limited by using the lowest effective recommended dose for the shortest time possible

Abbreviations: CV, cardiovascular; GI, gastrointestinal; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.