I understand there are some risks to taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, particularly with regard to the stomach?
A. Yes. This is true. The traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that we have been using over the last twenty years have had a particular risk regarding gastrointestinal side effects including stomach ulcers as well as stomach inflammation (gastritis). There have been episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to these medications. A large number of these medications act similarly to aspirin in that they interfere with platelet function, which is important in clotting in the body. Thus patients have had some increased bruising on the skin. These medicines also may interfere with kidney function particularly in those patients who already have underlying kidney problems to start with. Sometimes liver function may be affected with some elevation of liver blood tests. In the majority of patients these are reversible once the medication is discontinued. The important point here is that when patients take these medications they need to be monitored closely for these various s
