If a patient has pain originating directly from the temporomandibular joint, an anti-inflammatory drug can be prescribed at the onset of the pain. Pain in the temporomandibular joint always originates from inflammation. The common anti-inflammatory and pain relief drugs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs) are not, however, well tolerated by all patients alike, and often their use has to be discontinued due to problems in the digestive system (gastritis, gastric ulcers).