Abstract
Management of chronic pain can often be a challenging task, especially in the elderly. Patients over the age of 65 years have altered metabolism and pharmacodynamics that increase their susceptibility to adverse side effects. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a common component of pain management in this population. Nonselective NSAIDs as well as selective Cox-2 inhibitors have been associated with side effects, including renal dysfunction, heart failure, gastrointestinal toxicity and increased risk of cardiovascular side effects. These adverse effects are particularly important in the elderly, and thus use of NSAIDs in this population must be scrutinized carefully. If NSAIDs are utilized, they should be tailored to the individual patient and administered in the lowest dose and for the shortest duration possible. It is hoped that future studies will provide further insight into the safety of these agents in elderly patients.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 167-177 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Aging Health |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- adverse events
- coronary artery disease
- cyclooxygenase enzyme
- elderly
- gastrointestinal toxicity
- heart failure
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
- pain
- renal dysfunction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology