Complications Due to NSAIDS (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
Touted as being "more safe" than aspirin, a class of drugs called non-steroidal anti-infalmmatory drugs are the biggest sellers on the market. But are they really "safe"? Read on and draw your own conclusions.
The results of this study indicate that use of high doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is associated with a two-fold increased risk of immediate memory decline in the elderly.
Relation of prescription nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use to cognitive function among community-dwelling elderly.
Hanlon JT, Schmader KE, Landerman LR, et al. Ann Epidemiol 1997 Feb;7(2):87-94.
The results of this study, performed on a cohort of 2765 elderly individuals with intact cognitive performance at baseline, show that during a 3-year period, current users of moderate or high doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs scored worse at memory function tests, compared to users of low doses of NSAIDs. These results indicate that moderate and high doses of these drugs may impair memory function in the elderly.
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use and cognitive function in the elderly: inconclusive results from a population-based cohort study.
The results of this study, conducted on a sample population of 53 elderly patients taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and 1,199 controls not on NSAID treatment, show that during a two-year period of follow-up, deterioration of performance at the Mini-Mental Status Examination was 3 times more likely to occur in users of NSAIDs, compared to nonusers.
Assessment of cognitive function in elderly patients treated with naproxen. A prospective study.
Wysenbeek AJ, Klein Z, Nakar S, Mane R. Clin Exp Rheumatol 1988 Oct-Dec;6(4):399-400.
In this study, 4 of 12 patients who took the NSAID Naproxen for three weeks at doses of 750 mg/day showed signs of deterioration in one of four cognitive tests, compared to baseline.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug toxicity: increased risk in the elderly.
This article describes some of the adverse effects caused by the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These include gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic toxicity, and effects on the central nervous system such as dizziness, headaches, mood alteration and confusion, to which the elderly are particularly exposed.
The problems and pitfalls of NSAID therapy in the elderly (Part I).
Johnson AG; Day RO. Drugs Aging, 1(2):130-43 1991 Mar.
This article highlights that adverse reactions to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the most frequently prescribed class of drugs in the world, account for approximately one fourth of all reported adverse drug reactions, their incidence being particularly high in the elderly. Toxicity is directed not only toward the gastrointestinal tract, but also toward the renal, hepatic, cardiovascular, hematopoietic and central nervous system.
Drug-induced cognitive impairment in the elderly.
Moore AR, O'Keeffe ST. Drugs Aging 1999 Jul;15(1):15-28.
This article highlights that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a known cause of acute and, more rarely, chronic confusion in elderly patients.
Recurrent meningitis due to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Peterson DI, Ben Chong Y. Bull Clin Neurosci 1987;52:40-2.
This article reports on the case of two patients who experienced recurrent meningitis (inflammation of the membranes surroundings the brain and spinal cord) related to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatment.
Ibuprofen-induced aseptic meningitis in rheumatoid arthritis.
Horn AC, Jarrett SW. Ann Pharmacother 1997 Sep;31(9):1009-11.
This article reports on the case of 56-year old man with rheumatoid arthritis who developed aseptic meningitis after ingestion of ibuprofen.
The challenge of drug-induced aseptic meningitis.
Moris G, Garcia-Monco JC. Arch Intern Med 1999 Jun 14;159(11):1185-94.
This review shows that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, intravenous immunoglobulins, and monoclonal antibodies against the T3 receptor are the most frequent cause of drug-induced aseptic meningitis.
