What are the risks of long-term NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors? J Fam Pract 2003 Mar;52(3):199-200
Date
03/07/2003Pubmed ID
12620173Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0037335539 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 2 CitationsAbstract
This review presents an interesting new analysis of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor safety, concluding that long-term use results in more serious adverse events than traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The nonsystematic and retrospective properties of this analysis limit its validity. However, the fact that an evaluation of long-term data found some small harm to COX-2 inhibitors relative to traditional NSAIDs (number needed to harm=78 over 9 months) should give clinicians pause. Until better meta-analyses or new safety data are published, clinicians should prescribe COX-2 inhibitors long-term only for those patients deemed to be at high risk of ulcer complications.
Author List
DeBisschop MAuthor
Michael Debisschop PharmD Professor in the School of Pharmacy Administration department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalArthritis, Rheumatoid
Cyclooxygenase 2
Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
Evidence-Based Medicine
Humans
Isoenzymes
Membrane Proteins
Osteoarthritis
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Safety