Concern about pain reliever side effects, many patients take more than r...( NEW ORLEANS Despite increasing eviden...),Health

NEW ORLEANS, Despite increasing evidence of the serious side effects associated with indiscriminate use of over-the-counter analgesics called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), U.S. adults continue to use the medications incorrectly, putting themselves at risk for life-threatening side effects. Data presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the American Gastroenterological Association during Digestive Disease Week 2004 in New Orleans show patients have become more aware of potential safety issues with analgesics over the past five years, but are not transferring that awareness into action, according to consumer use surveys conducted in 1997 and 2003.

In a rare look at how analgesics are used, researchers compared findings of two consumer surveys one conducted in 1997 and a larger survey fielded in 2003 to measure consumer awareness levels of side effects associated with commonly used over-the-counter pain relievers. The comparison study found that as of 2003, 59 percent of respondents said they were concerned about side effects associated with over-the-counter analgesics, compared to only 18 percent in 1997. However, in 2003, 44 percent of respondents said they took more than the recommended dose of medications, up from 26 percent in 1997.

"Each day, more than 30 million Americans take an NSAID for quick, easy pain relief from common ailments like headaches and arthritis. Because these drugs are easily accessible and can be very effective, there is a misperception out there that they have no risks," said Byron Cryer, M.D., lead investigator on the study and an associate professor of medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. "In reality, there are serious side effects associated with inappropriate use that patients need to recognize."

NSAIDs, including the pain medications aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, are one of the leading causes of stomach ulcers and have been associated
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Contact: Rosy McGillan
Rosemary.McGillan@mslpr.com
202-261-2884
American Gastroenterological Association
21-May-2004

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