Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are Associated with a High Incidence of Gastrointestinal Side-Effects

Abstract

Inhibition of the cyclooxygenase  (COX) enzyme is the basis for both the efficacy and toxicity of NSAIDs. The aim of this study was to avaluate the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were used in neuro polyclinic hospital of Dr. Mintohardjo Jakarta, and to evaluate gastrointestinal tolerability of meloxicam 15 mg compared with diclofenac sodium 100 mg. The methode of this study was cross-sectional observation and  cohort prospective on December 2010-March 2011. The data of dyspepsia associated were used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs consist of pain in upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, upper  abdominal bloating and early satiety collected with PADYQ (The porto alegre dyspeptic symptoms questionnaire) were assessed at baseline and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used in neuro polyclinic hospital of Dr. Mintohardjo Jakarta were meloxicam (48.21%), diclofenac sodium (31.07%), mefenamic acid (15.36%), piroxicam (3.93%)  dan acetaminophen (1.43%). Insiden of adverse event after 2 weeks treatment was significantly lower in the meloxicam group compared with diclofenac sodium group in pain in upper abdomen and upper abdominal bloating (p=0.020 and  p=0.037). These result suggest that meloxicam was much better tolerated than diclofenac sodium after 2 weeks treatment.