Costochondritis inflammation may respond to some extent to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) but they should never be used long-term as these medications have potentially serious side-effects. You may be offered a local anesthetic and steroid injection in the area that is tender if normal activities become extremely painful and the pain does not respond to drugs but any effect will be short-lived .
There is absolutely no place for long-term use of anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, powerful codeine / morphine based opioid addictive painkillers or gabapentin, pregabalin or amitriptyline along with a host of antidepressants commonly prescribed in low-doses as ‘pain-relief’ which just cover-up symptoms and perpetuate musculoskeletal problems into very long-term, unresolved pain, ill-health, inactivity, obesity and misery.
Infectious (bacterial or fungal) costochondritis should be treated initially with intravenous (in the vein or IV) antibiotics. Afterward, antibiotics by mouth or by IV should be continued for another two to three weeks to complete the therapy.
In most cases, manual treatments, if applied by an expert, will improve joint, muscle and musculoskeletal connective-tissue fascial function which relieves pain. Full postural rehabilitation with regular specific exercises and longterm improved fitness will aid a long-term cure.
Source: NHS