All living well guides
Medication safety
Using NSAIDs Safely
Anti-inflammatories are useful, but they work best at the lowest dose for the shortest time needed.
Video lesson
Why it matters
NSAIDs can cause stomach ulcers and bleeding, raise blood pressure, strain the kidneys and increase heart risk with long-term use.
What you can do
Take with food, don’t combine two NSAIDs (including over-the-counter ones), and ask about a stomach-protecting medicine if you take them daily. Topical NSAID gels are a lower-risk option for knees and hands.
Call your care team if
You have black stools, vomit blood, swelling of the legs, or rising blood pressure.
At a glance
Topic
Medication safety
Reviewed by Farhan Tahir, MD, FACR
Questions about your own care?
Book an in-person or telehealth consultation with Dr. Tahir.
For education only. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without talking to your care team.