The best way to minimize side effects is to use as little as possible to achieve the desired effect.
I read recently that there are studies showing growing "abuse" of NSAIDs by high school football players before games. The thinking seems to be to load up on the stuff pre-game as a sort of pre-emptive treatment. And if one helps with the aches after the game, then 5 or 6 before the game should help cut down on even getting the aches.