Study of Analgesic Intake among Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain and Their Side Effects

Background: chronic low back pain is one of the most common causes of chronic pain. Low back pain can have many causes but most cases have nonspecific etiology. There are many approaches in the management of chronic low back pain. Methodology: we carried out a systematic review on observational (nonrandomized) of 43 studies using PUBMED. Aim: to evaluate the use of analgesics, mainly Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and opiates, compare their efficacies for symptomatic treatment of low back pain, and study the side effects briefly for both category of drug. Conclusion: management of chronic low back pain aims mainly to improve function, and quality of life, and to decrease level of disability, and therefore, it remains as a big challenge for the general practitioner. More studies must be done to compare efficacies of various lines of management for both short and long term.