Are Cox-2 inhibitors better pain relievers than older, traditional anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen?
No. As a group, the benefit of these drugs lies in their lower frequency of stomach and intestinal side effects, not in their effectiveness. Clinical research has shown that the Cox-2 inhibitors are essentially equivalent to traditional anti-inflammatory drugs in effectiveness. Improved effectiveness has never been the point of these medications, nor have their respective manufacturers marketed them for that purpose. Having said that, doctors are well aware that determining which patient is going to respond to which anti-inflammatory drug involves some trial and error. Therefore, it is convenient to have options when treating chronic pain or inflammation.
