SAFETY PROFILE OF NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS: A REVIEW

Shima Michael*, K. Krishnakumar, L. Panayappan and Leo Mathew*

ABSTRACT

NSAIDs are among the most frequently used medicinal products in medical practice and are also very well-known for their various adverse reactions. Each NSAID has its own unique safety profile and selecting an appropriate NSAID must be individualized for each patient based on his or her medical needs and risk factors. They are in great use for managing pain and other symptoms of inflammation, but they can also cause a number of adverse effects on gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular or kidney and urinary systems, etc. COX-2 inhibitors have smaller gastrointestinal toxicity, though some researches suggest that long-term treatment with COX-2 inhibitors in high doses can increase the risk from cardiovascular incidents. This review article shows that as there are many ADRs for NSAIDs the selection of most appropriate NSAIDs for each patient should be tailored to each individual patient based on the patient’s medical background. Hence they can be used safely and effectively.

Keywords: COX-2 inhibitor, safety profile.