Acetaminophen or NSAIDS for osteoarthritis?

Which drug is more effective for treating OA: acetaminophen or NSAIDS? A recent review from the Cochrane Collaboration database concluded that NSAIDS appear to be more effective than acetaminophen for the treatment of arthritis (Towheed et al, 2006).

Acetaminophen is generally regarded as having a more favorable safety profile than NSAIDS as acetaminophen does not have a risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. However, acetaminophen can cause liver damage when used in large doses or when combined with alcohol.

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Towheed TE, Maxwell L, Judd MG, Catton M, Hochberg MC, Wells G. Acetaminophen for osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jan 25;1:CD004257.

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