I was interested in learning about some of the negative
effects of NSAIDs, as many of us don’t hesitate to pop a couple of
pain-relieving pills at the first sign of aches and pains. While non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) offer many benefits, the side-effects to regular
use of these drugs are often unmentioned because of their widespread
availability and seemingly low danger.
According to a review by the American College of
Gastroenterology, the regular use of NSAIDs is the second major cause of
gastrointestinal ulcers. In addition, taking NSAIDs with alcohol increases the
risk of this intestinal bleeding. This poses a frightening danger as the first
thing most people reach for after a heavy night of drinking is a bottle of Asprin.
Others may even finish the night off with a few aspirin to preemptively combat
the looming hangover.
Some sources state that acetaminophen (Tylenol) causes less
upper intestinal irritation than Naproxen (Alleve) and Aspirin (Bayer), but a
combination of alcohol and acetominophen can lead to liver failure in some
cases. So next time you wake up with a raging headache after a long night of
boozing, maybe reach for a gatorade and some coffee instead of the pill bottle.
So my question to you guys is how dangerous do you think NSAIDs
really are? Do the side effects really only effect those who are predisposed to
intestinal/liver damage or are we all at risk?
Here is the review by the American College of
Gastroenterology:
http://patients.gi.org/topics/aspirin-and-nsaids/
I personally do not feel NSAIDS pose a great risk if "taken properly". The review article states and every bottles directions also recommend to avoid alcohol with this product...
ReplyDelete"...they should not be taken with alcohol, as the combination can increase the risk of GI bleeding. Patients who need to use NSAIDs regularly should consult regularly with their physician to be alert for any potential GI effects.". As we have discussed multiple times in class this semester, this comes down to a persons own accountability and just common sense. We have the research that shows how NSAIDS can possibly be detrimental to ones health. These warning are out there, but if someone chooses to ignore the warnings and takes too much and/or combines with other things this is their "educated choice". A simple comparison would be alcohol combined with heavy machinery...this too can cause serious health issues and/or even death (indirectly but still caused by). However people across the globe chose to ignore clear research, warnings, and even repercusion threats.
NSAIDS have their place in medicine and can be used to benefit many people. However we should stop thinking that "we" might be different and those warnings don't apply to us. These side effects are almost like luck of the draw and you shouldn't even risk rolling the dice.
I do agree that some responsibility must be put on the user's shoulders. However, when a health care system experiences a chronic (and costly) problem with a class of drugs, we have to think that maybe there is a fundamental issue with how people (as a whole) view the use of the drugs (in this case, far too nonchalantly).
ReplyDeleteI was curious to the underlying cost of NSAID-related gastrointestinal ulcers. Ulcers, after all, have to be treated and as we all know, medical costs have sky rocketed.
I found an article published by a team in the Netherlands that looked at the mortality and costs associated from these NSAID-related gastrointestinal ulcers. The nitty gritty? Such NSAID-related gastrointestinal complications have a mortality rate of 10.6% (!!!) and cost the Netherlands 42 million Euros per year (approximately $56 million US per year).
Here it's worth pausing and taking note of population differences. The Netherlands has a population of roughly 16 million, the US has a population of over 300 million (Sources: World Bank, US Census). You can't help but think, "if NSAID-related gastrointestinal complications are costing the Netherlands (16 million people) $56 million a year, what is it costing the U.S.?"
In conclusion, yes, by all means, the consumer is not free of responsibility. However, when a problem is one that costs millions, maybe it's time to investigate the underlying causes to such overuse of this class of drugs...
Article: Direct Medical Costs of Serious Gastrointestinal Ulcers among Users of NSAIDs" Drugs Aging. 2007. 24(8).
I agree with Lance and think that NSAIDs like any other drugs, are fine if used with careful moderation. However, this is much more easily said than done, as all NSAIDs seem to relieve you from a variety of symptoms, and are the "easier" option as opposed to actually fixing what is wrong with you. In addition to this, normal consumers rarely take the time to evaluate the use of drugs that are over the counter, and seem to think that they do not need as strict regulation because they do not require a prescription. I think it all goes back to balancing corporate goals (which ultimately will do whatever it takes to sell as much of their product) and taking the time to conduct and share research like that shared by Celine. That way, the consumer is more inclined to make an educated decision on how sparingly they want to use their NSAIDs.
ReplyDeleteI believe that NSAIDs can be a good thing when taken under the proper circumstances and in moderation. Sometimes they are helpful in reducing pain and inflammation when other things cannot. But I do not believe that NSAIDs taken too much at once or even daily is healthy. I also do not think it is a good idea to mix them with alcohol either. It really is up to the person and how strong there body is and how NSAIDS affect them. So in moderation NSAIDS may be a a good thing.
Delete