Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly referred to as NSAIDs, are used to alleviate fever symptoms and reduce pain. Most people who take over-the-counter NSAIDs use them to ease the occasional headache or muscle pain. But they also provide quick relief for an estimated 52 million Americans— mostly older adults— with arthritis. In these cases, prescription-strength NSAIDs drastically improve quality of life with few noticeable side effects.