The Underreporting Of Arthritis Drug Use… Are You Taking “poison” And Not Telling Your Doctor?
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are among the most commonly used over-the-counter medications. Examples include Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), and Orudis (ketoprofen).
They are so ubiquitous in their use that often people don’t think about them nor do they even consider them to be medicines.
A recent U.S. study suggested people underreport their use of these common but potentially dangerous over-the-counter pain medications even to their doctors.
Unfortunately, this practice is risky. NSAIDS have known serious side effects. They can damage the liver, can cause bone marrow problems, and can also lead to abnormal kidney function and kidney failure.
Fluid retention, aggravation of hypertension, and congestive heart failure are other potential problems. In addition, NSAID use has been linked to cardiovascular events such as stroke and heart attack. This latter issue is what caused the removal of Vioxx from the market by the FDA. Most people aren’t aware of the fact, though, that all NSAIDS- as a class- carry the same type of risk.
Because of drug interaction, NSAIDS have the ability to alter blood levels of other drugs leading to side-effects. A particularly severe problem can occur in patients who are taking blood thinners like Coumadin (warfarin) and then start NSAIDS. There are two major pathways that allow normal clotting of blood. NSAIDS inhibit platelet function. Platelets allow clotting of blood via one pathway. In a patient who is taking a blood thinner where the other pathway is also blocked, there is the danger of excessive bleeding occurring.
Deaths have also been reported because of acute allergic reactions that affect the respiratory system or skin.
Another set of common but no less potentially life-threatening issues are gastrointestinal complications such as bleeding, ulceration and perforation. These problems can occur without causing warning symptoms. Scientists theorize that the pain-relieving properties of these medicines mask the symptoms.
With millions of people taking NSAID pain medications daily, it's estimated that more than 100,000 U.S. citizens are hospitalized each year with ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding linked to NSAID use.
Dr. David
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