Best Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug for arthritis, rheumatoid
Top-rated pick: Advil — pharmaranks score 72/100, the highest of the 32 Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug drugs used for arthritis, rheumatoid, ranked by our independent FDA recall-safety score. Compare them with all treatments for arthritis, rheumatoid or the full Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug class. Not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Quick answer: Of the 32 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug drugs we rate for arthritis, rheumatoid, 24 are available as lower-cost generics, and most are capsule. Our ranking reflects each drug’s FDA recall-safety record — not clinical effectiveness for arthritis, rheumatoid; the right choice depends on your situation, so confirm it with your prescriber.
How nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug work
NSAIDs block cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes that your body uses to make prostaglandins, the chemicals behind pain, swelling, and fever. Lowering prostaglandins eases pain and inflammation and brings down a high temperature.
Source: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
Other drug classes for arthritis, rheumatoid
Top nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for arthritis, rheumatoid: 1. Advil · 2. Flector · 3. Junior Strength Advil
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72/100 | Over-the-counter | Tablet | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 2 | 72/100 | Prescription | System | Generic | $146 | View → | |
| 3 | 72/100 | Over-the-counter | Tablet | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 4 | 72/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 5 | 72/100 | Over-the-counter | Topical | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 6 | 70/100 | Over-the-counter | Capsule | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 7 | 70/100 | Over-the-counter | Capsule | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 8 | 70/100 | Over-the-counter | Capsule | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 9 | 70/100 | Over-the-counter | Capsule | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 10 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $0 | View → |
Full ranking · 32 drugs
advil
Over-the-counterFDA-sourced
Advil (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsflector
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Flector (Diclofenac Epolamine) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea, Inflammation.
Pharmacy pays
~$146.33 /30
Save up to 99% in classjunior strength advil
Over-the-counterFDA-sourced
Junior Strength Advil (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsnaproxen
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Back Pain, Bursitis.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.05· 8 forms Save up to 34% in classvoltaren arthritis pain
Over-the-counterFDA-sourced
Voltaren Arthritis Pain (Diclofenac Sodium) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea, Inflammation.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.09· 6 forms Save up to 89% in classadvil liqui-gels
Over-the-counterFDA-sourced
Advil Liqui-Gels (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsadvil migraine liqui-gels
Over-the-counterFDA-sourced
Advil Migraine Liqui-Gels (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsmidol liquid gels
Over-the-counterFDA-sourced
Midol Liquid Gels (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsmotrin ib
Over-the-counterFDA-sourced
Motrin Ib (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsmotrin migraine pain
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Motrin Migraine Pain (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsnuprin
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Nuprin (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsxifyrm
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Xifyrm (Meloxicam) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.50/30· 4 formscelecoxib
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Celecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea, Osteoarthritis, Adenomatous Polyposis Coli.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$2.14/30· 4 forms Save up to 78% in class
daypro
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Daypro (Oxaprozin) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$17.64/30· 2 forms Save up to 97% in classfeldene
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Feldene (Piroxicam) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis, Inflammation, Osteoarthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$4.42/30· 2 forms Save up to 90% in classsulindac
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Sulindac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Inflammation, Osteoarthritis.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$5.68/30· 2 forms Save up to 91% in classaleve
Over-the-counterFDA-sourced
Aleve (Naproxen Sodium) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Back Pain, Bursitis.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.05· 8 forms Save up to 34% in classcaldolor
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Caldolor (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formscambia
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Cambia (Diclofenac Potassium) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea, Inflammation.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.09· 6 forms Save up to 89% in classcelebrex
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Celebrex (Celecoxib) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea, Osteoarthritis, Adenomatous Polyposis Coli.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$2.14/30· 4 forms Save up to 78% in classcoxanto
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Coxanto (Oxaprozin) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$17.64/30· 2 forms Save up to 97% in classdiclofenac potassium
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Diclofenac Potassium is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea, Inflammation.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.09· 6 forms Save up to 89% in classec-naprosyn
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Ec-Naprosyn (Naproxen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Back Pain, Bursitis.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.05· 8 forms Save up to 34% in classelyxyb
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Elyxyb (Celecoxib) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysmenorrhea, Osteoarthritis, Adenomatous Polyposis Coli.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$2.14/30· 4 forms Save up to 78% in classFrequently asked
- What is the best nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for arthritis, rheumatoid?
- By our independent recall-safety rating — not an efficacy measure — advil ranks highest among Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug drugs used for arthritis, rheumatoid. Always consult a professional.
- Which nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug drugs treat arthritis, rheumatoid?
- pharmaranks lists 32 Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug products used for arthritis, rheumatoid, per NIH RxClass drug-classification data — each independently rated and ranked above.
- How are these ranked?
- By our independent score, currently based on FDA regulatory recall-safety data (the methodology blends additional sources as they come online). See the How we rate page.