1.1. Adults
Adult maximum daily NSAID dosages as monotherapy and combination therapy are summarized in Tables 1 and 2 and should not exceed these recommended maximum values.
| Drug Name | Dosage Form/Strength | Treatment Indication | Maximum Recommended Daily Dosage |
|---|---|---|---|
| aspirin (generics) | 81 mg chewable/EC tablets; 325 mg regular/EC tablets | arterial thromboembolism prophylaxis | 325 mg once daily |
| 81 mg chewable/enteric-coated (EC) tablets; 325 mg, 500 mg regular/EC tablets | fever, pain (mild to moderate including dysmenorrhea) | 4000 mg/day in divided doses | |
| 81 mg chewable/EC tablets; 325 mg regular/EC tablets | myocardial infarction | 325 mg x1 dose, chewed | |
| 81 mg chewable/EC tablets | myocardial infarction prevention | 162 mg once daily | |
| 325 mg, 500 mg, regular/EC tablets | osteoarthritis | 3000 mg/day in divided doses | |
| 325 mg, 500 mg, regular/EC tablets | osteoarthritis | 3000 mg/day in divided doses | |
| 325 mg, 500 mg, regular/EC tablets | rheumatoid arthritis | titrate to a plasma salicylate level between 150- 300 mcg/ mL | |
| 81 mg chewable/EC tablets; 325 mg regular/EC tablets | stroke prevention in patients with TIA or other stroke risk factors | 325 mg once daily | |
| diclofenac potassium (Cambia) | 50 mg oral powder for solution | acute migraine attack with or without aura | 50 mg (1 packet) as single dose |
| diclofenac potassium immediate-release (IR) (Lofena, generics) | 25 mg, 50 mg IR tablets | osteoarthritis | 150 mg/day in divided doses |
| pain (mild to moderate) | 150 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| primary dysmenorrhea | 150 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 200 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| diclofenac sodium delayed- release (DR) (generics) | 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg DR tablets | ankylosing spondylitis | 125 mg/day in divided doses |
| osteoarthritis | 150 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 200 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| diclofenac sodium extended-release (ER) (generics) | 100 mg ER tablets | osteoarthritis | 100 mg once daily |
| rheumatoid arthritis | 200 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| diclofenac potassium (Zipsor, generics) | 25 mg capsule | pain (mild to moderate) | 100 mg/day in divided doses |
| diclofenac epolamine (Flector, generics) | 1.3% topical patch/system | acute pain (due to minor strains, sprains, and contusions) | 1 patch twice daily |
| diclofenac epolamine (Licart) | 1.3% topical patch/system | acute pain (due to minor strains, sprains, and contusions) | 1 patch daily |
| diclofenac sodium (Voltaren, generics) | 1% gel | arthritis pain (hand, wrist, elbow, foot, ankle, knee) | Over-the-counter: 32 g/day in divided doses* |
| diflunisal | 500 mg tablets | osteoarthritis | 1500 mg/day in divided doses |
| pain (mild to moderate) | 1500 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 1500 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| etodolac IR (generics) | 200 mg, 300 mg IR capsule; 400 mg, 500 mg IR tablet | acute pain | 1200 mg/day in divided doses |
| osteoarthritis | 1200 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 1200 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| etodolac ER (generics) | 400 mg, 500 mg, 600 mg ER tablets | osteoarthritis | 1200 mg once daily |
| rheumatoid arthritis | 1200 mg once daily | ||
| fenoprofen capsules (Nalfon, generics); tablets (Nalfon, generics) | 200 mg, 400 mg capsules; 600 mg tablets | osteoarthritis | 3200 mg/day in divided doses |
| pain (mild to moderate) | 3200 mg/ day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 3200 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| flurbiprofen (generics) | 100 mg tablets | osteoarthritis | 300 mg/day in divided doses; no more than 100 mg per dose |
| rheumatoid arthritis | 300 mg/day in divided doses; no more than 100 mg per dose | ||
| ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, generics) | 100 mg chewable tablets; 200 mg, 400 mg, 600 mg, 800 mg tablets; 200 mg capsule; 100 mg/5 mL suspension | dysmenorrhea | 3200 mg/day in divided doses |
| fever | 3200 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| osteoarthritis | 3200 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| pain (mild to moderate, including headaches and migraine) | 3200 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 3200 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| indomethacin IR (generics) | 25 mg, 50 mg capsules; 25 mg/5 mL suspension | acute bursitis or tendinitis | 150 mg/day in divided doses |
| acute gouty arthritis | 150 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| ankylosing spondylitis | 200 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| osteoarthritis | 200 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 200 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| indomethacin ER (generics) | 75 mg ER capsules | acute bursitis or tendinitis | 150 mg/day in divided doses |
| ankylosing spondylitis | 150 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| osteoarthritis | 150 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 150 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| indomethacin rectal (Indocin) | 50 mg rectal suppository | acute bursitis or tendinitis | 150 mg/day in divided doses; no more than 100 mg per dose |
| acute gouty arthritis | 150 mg/day in divided doses; no more than 100 mg per dose | ||
| ankylosing spondylitis | 200 mg/day in divided doses; no more than 100 mg per dose | ||
| osteoarthritis | 200 mg/day in divided doses; no more than 100 mg per dose | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 200 mg/day in divided doses; no more than 100 mg per dose | ||
| ketoprofen IR (generics) | 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg IR capsules | osteoarthritis | 300 mg/day in divided doses |
| pain (mild/moderate, including acute dysmenorrhea) | 300 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 300 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| ketoprofen ER (generics) | 200 mg ER capsule | osteoarthritis | 200 mg once daily |
| rheumatoid arthritis | 200 mg once daily | ||
| ketorolac (generics) | 10mg tablets | acute pain (moderately severe) following IV or IM treatment | 40 mg/day in divided doses |
| magnesium salicylate (Doans, generics) | 580 mg extended-release caplets | pain (mild/moderate) | 4640 mg/day (8 caplets) in divided doses |
| meclofenamate (generics) | 50 mg, 100 mg capsules | acute bursitis or tendinitis | 400 mg/day in divided doses |
| acute gouty arthritis | 400 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| ankylosing spondylitis | 400 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| fever | 400 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| dysmenorrhea and idiopathic heavy menstrual blood loss | 300 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| osteoarthritis | 400 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| pain (mild/ moderate) | 400 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 400 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| mefenamic acid (generics) | 250 mg capsules | pain (mild/ moderate including dysmenorrhea) | 1250 mg in divided doses on day 1; 1000 mg/day in divided doses on days 2-7 |
| meloxicam (generics) | 7.5 mg, 15 mg tablets, 7.5 mg/ 5 mL suspension | osteoarthritis | 15 mg/day once daily |
| rheumatoid arthritis | 15 mg/day once daily | ||
| meloxicam (generics) | 5 mg, 10 mg capsules | osteoarthritis | 10 mg/day once daily |
| nabumetone (generics) | 500 mg, 750 mg tablets | osteoarthritis | 2000 mg/day in single or divided doses |
| rheumatoid arthritis | 2000 mg/day in single or divided doses | ||
| naproxen IR (Aleve, Naprosyn, generics) | 220 mg IR capsule; 220 mg, 250 mg, 275 mg, 375 mg, 500 mg IR tablets; 125 mg/5 mL IR suspension | acute gout | 1500 mg/day in divided doses |
| ankylosing spondylitis | 1500 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| bursitis/tendinitis | 1500 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| osteoarthritis | 1500 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| pain (mild/moderate including dysmenorrhea) | 1500 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 1500 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| naproxen sodium (Anaprox DS, generics) | 220 mg, 275 mg, 550 mg IR tablets | acute gout | 1650 mg/day in divided doses |
| ankylosing spondylitis | 1650 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| bursitis/tendinitis | 1650 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| osteoarthritis | 1650 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| pain (mild/moderate including dysmenorrhea) | 1650 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 1650 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| naproxen DR (EC-Naprosyn, generics) | 375 mg, 500 mg DR tablets | ankylosing spondylitis | 1500 mg/day in divided doses |
| osteoarthritis | 1500 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 1500 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| naproxen ER (Naprelan, generics | 375 mg, 500 mg, 750 mg ER tablets | acute gout | 1500 mg/day in divided doses |
| ankylosing spondylitis | 1500 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| bursitis/tendinitis | 1500 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| osteoarthritis | 1500 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| pain (mild/moderate including dysmenorrhea) | 1500 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 1500 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| oxaprozin (Daypro, generics) | 600 mg tablets | osteoarthritis | 1800 mg/day (not to exceed 26 mg/kg/day) in divided doses |
| rheumatoid arthritis | 1800 mg/day (not to exceed 26 mg/kg/day) in divided doses | ||
| oxaprozin (Coxanto, generics) | 300 mg capsules | osteoarthritis | 1200 mg once daily |
| piroxicam (Feldene, generics) | 10 mg, 20 mg capsules | osteoarthritis | 20 mg once daily |
| rheumatoid arthritis | 20 mg once daily | ||
| salsalate (generics) | 500 mg, 750 mg tablets | osteoarthritis | 3000 mg/day in divided doses |
| rheumatoid arthritis | 3000 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| sulindac (generics) | 150 mg, 200 mg tablets | acute gouty arthritis | 400 mg/day in divided doses |
| ankylosing spondylitis | 400 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| bursitis/tendinitis of shoulder | 400 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| osteoarthritis | 400 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis | 400 mg/day in divided doses |
*Diclofenac sodium 1% topical gel has a maximum recommended daily dose of 32 g. No more than 16 g/day should be used on a single joint on a lower extremity; no more than 8 g/day should be used on a single joint on a upper extremity.1,11
| Drug Name | Dosage Form/Strength | Treatment Indication | Maximum Recommended Daily Dosage |
|---|---|---|---|
| acetaminophen/ aspirin/caffeine (Excedrin Migraine, generics) | 250 mg/250 mg/65 mg tablets | migraine headache | 2 tablets/24 hours |
| pain, including headache | 8 tablets/24 hours in divided doses | ||
| acetaminophen/aspirin/caffeine (Goody’s) | 260 mg/520 mg/32.5 mg powders | pain, including headache | 4 powders/24 hours in divided doses |
| aspirin/butalbital/caffeine (generics) | 325 mg/50 mg/40 mg capsules, tablets | tension or muscle contraction headache | 6 capsules/24 hours in divided doses (1 or 2 every 4 hours) |
| diclofenac/misoprostol (Arthrotec, generics) | 50 mg/200 mcg, 75 mg/200 mcg delayed-release tablet | osteoarthritis in patients at high risk of developing NSAID-induced gastric and duodenal ulcers | 150 mg/600 mcg/day in divided doses |
| rheumatoid arthritis in patients at high risk of developing NSAID-induced gastric and duodenal ulcers | 200 mg/800 mcg/day in divided doses | ||
| ibuprofen/famotidine (Duexis, generic) | 800 mg/26.6 mg tablet | pain relief in osteoarthritis and to decrease the risk of developing upper gastrointestinal ulcers | 2400 mg/79.8 mg/day in divided doses |
| pain relief in rheumatoid arthritis and to decrease the risk of developing upper gastrointestinal ulcers | 2400 mg/79.8 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| naproxen/esomeprazole (Vimovo, generic) | 375 mg/20 mg, 500 mg/20 mg delayed-release tablet | ankylosing spondylitis in patients at risk of developing NSAID-associated ulcers | 1000 mg/40 mg/day in divided doses |
| osteoarthritis in patients at risk of developing NSAID-associated ulcers | 1000 mg/40 mg/day in divided doses | ||
| rheumatoid arthritis in patients at risk of developing NSAID-associated ulcers | 1000 mg/40 mg/day in divided doses |