Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug gastrointestinal toxicity

Byron Cryer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are currently the most widely used class of therapeutic agents. By inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) and reducing gastrointestinal prostaglandins, they provide effective analgesia and suppress inflammation in a variety of conditions. However, through the same mechanism of COX inhibition, they also cause significant gastrointestinal toxicity. One of the most common methods to reduce NSAID- induced gastrointestinal toxicity has been to co-prescribe prophylactic therapies such as acid-reducing agents or the synthetic prostaglandin analogue, misoprostol. More recently safer NSAIDs, such as the COX-2 specific NSAIDs or the nitric oxide-releasing NSAIDs, have been developed or are currently in development. This article reviews mechanisms of NSAID-induced gastrointestinal toxicity. Also reviewed are data on the gastrointestinal consequences of the prophylactic co-therapies, COX-2 specific NSAIDs and nitric oxide-releasing NSAIDs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)473-480
Number of pages8
JournalCurrent Opinion in Gastroenterology
Volume15
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 10 1999

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Gastroenterology

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