| Non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) | | | | taking more than one NSAID at a time. |
| are anti-inflammatory pain relievers. Approximately | | | | Small amounts of over-the-counter NSAID |
| twenty different NSAIDS are available by | | | | including low-dose aspirin to prevent stroke, heart |
| prescription. Three NSAIDS (ibuprofen, naproxen, | | | | attack, and colon cancer also increase risk. |
| and ketoprofen) are also available | | | | Warning signs that a significant problem may be |
| over-the-counter as Advil, Motrin IB, Aleve, and | | | | occurring include:o Stomach paino Tarry black |
| Orudis. Aspirin is also an NSAID. NSAIDS are also | | | | stool or blood in the stoolo Vomiting up material |
| found in many common cold preparations such as | | | | that looks like coffee grounds |
| Advil Cold and Sinus, Dimetapp Sinus, and Aleve | | | | One unfortunate issue is that more than 80 per |
| Cold and Sinus. | | | | cent of people who have a life-threatening |
| The most common side effect associated with | | | | stomach problem have no warning symptoms. |
| these drugs is stomach problems. These problems | | | | Symptoms can occur quickly also. Serious medical |
| can range from mild stomach upset to ulcers and | | | | events have occurred in people taking NSAIDS |
| bleeding. NSAIDS cause this situation because the | | | | for less than one week. |
| same mechanism that allows them to block | | | | To reduce your risk:o Check to see if you have |
| inflammation also causes them to block the | | | | risk factors.o Discuss potential side-effects with |
| secretion of substances that protect the stomach | | | | your prescribing physician.o Read the warning label |
| lining. | | | | and follow dosing instructions.o Don't use |
| The magnitude of this problem is enormous. | | | | prescription NSAID and over-the-counter NSAID |
| Significant stomach side-effects from NSAIDS | | | | at the same time.o When you see your doctor let |
| result in 103,000 hospitalizations and 16,500 deaths | | | | him or her know about all the medicines, including |
| each year in the United States. | | | | nutritional supplements, you are taking.o Limit your |
| While anyone who takes an NSAID can be at risk | | | | alcohol intake while on these medicines.o |
| for stomach problems, there are some high risk | | | | Recognize that low dose aspirin is an NSAID.o Let |
| factors that significantly increase the chance of | | | | your physician know if you're experiencing any |
| problems developing. These include:o Age greater | | | | symptoms that suggest a stomach problem.o |
| than 60o History of previous ulcerso Taking | | | | Ask about other medicines that might reduce |
| steroid medicines such as prednisoneo Using blood | | | | your risk of a stomach side-effect. Medicines |
| thinners like coumadin, Plavix, or heparino Regular | | | | called proton pump inhibitors (PPIS) can reduce |
| alcohol consumptiono Taking higher than the | | | | the risk of stomach side-effects. Examples of |
| recommended dosage of NSAIDo Taking more | | | | PPIS include Nexium, Protonix, Prilosec, and Axid. |
| than one NSAID at the same time (such as taking | | | | Another medicine, Cytotec, may also protect |
| an NSAID along with aspirin)o Taking NSAID for a | | | | your stomach. Sometimes using an analgesic that |
| prolonged period of time | | | | is not an NSAID can relieve arthritis symptoms |
| A 2003 survey revealed that about half of all | | | | sufficiently. Analgesics include Tylenol or Ultram |
| Americans who took over-the-counter NSAIDS | | | | (tramadol). |
| took more than the recommended dose. This can | | | | Cox-2 medicines such as Celebrex may also |
| happen when the dose is taken before the | | | | reduce your stomach risk. However, adding low |
| recommended time for dosing, taking more than | | | | dose aspirin to Celebrex apparently removes the |
| the recommended number of tablets, taking more | | | | protective effect of the Celebrex. |
| than the recommended dosage per day, and | | | | |