Avoiding Drug-Related Stomach Problems
By: Yvette J. Crockell, MHA, R.PH.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most
prescribed drugs in the United States and are the cornerstone of arthritis
therapy. For numerous patients, NSAIDs
bring welcome relief from both pain and inflammation, but also provide some
not-so welcome stomach, or gastrointestinal (GI), side effects.
These side effects are the most frequent associated with the use of
NSAIDs and can range from occasional nausea or heartburn to potentially fatal
bleeding ulcers.
Certain factors can contribute to a patients risk for GI side
effects. These risk factors include
things such as being over age 60, smoking, cardiovascular disease, history of
stomach ulcers or bleeding, excessive alcohol consumption, use of blood thinner
drugs medications, and use of cortisones or NSAIDs.
It is important to evaluate your risk for GI side effects and to report
any symptoms to your physician such as upset stomach or heartburn that occurs
when taking NSAID medications.
To completely eliminate the risk of NSAID-related GI problems, patients
would have to simply stop taking them, something few people with arthritis
would choose to do. Fortunately, there are other options to reducing the risk
of GI problems.
If you take NSAIDs and have experienced GI side effects such as stomach
upset or heartburn, other options such as Cox-2 inhibitors (e.g., Bextra,
Celebrex, Vioxx) may be used.
Other alternatives include using an NSAID medication in combination
with other GI protecting drugs such as misoprostol (Cytotec), an H2
blocker (e.g., cimetidine, ranitidine), or a proton pump inhibitor (e.g., Prevacid,
Prilosec).
Although some of the combination drug therapies are available over the
counter, you should always check with your doctor before using one along with
an NSAID.
Are you at GI
risk? The Jackson Arthritis Center is performing a
study to determine the percentage of patients that are at risk for stomach
problems. If you have arthritis and
experience GI side effects from taking an NSAID medication, please print out
the following survey tool, write down your answers and return the survey tool
to the Center to assess your GI risk.
Please share a copy of this tool and speak with your physician if you
are experiencing GI side effects from NSAID medications. Click HERE to access the GI risk survey tool