Salicylates in the treatment of arthritic disease. How safe and effective?

Despite the adverse effects of aspirin, many physicians still consider it to be the drug of choice for initial treatment of arthritic disorders. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are better tolerated than aspirin but have similar, although milder, side effects. The nonacetylated salicylates appear to have fewer adverse effects than either aspirin or the NSAIDs and therefore may warrant greater consideration as first-line therapy for arthritis.