Systematic Review on the Safety of Concomitant Use of Hypoglycemia-Inducing Drugs and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Patients With Musculoskeletal Pathology

Abstract

ObjectivesTo analyze the safety of combining non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and hypoglycemia-inducing drugs. MethodsA systematic review following a sensitive search strategy was performed. All articles published in MEDLINE (since 1961), EMBASE (since 1961), and Cochrane Library, up to December 2007, were examined. Selection criteria: the population (subjects taking hypoglycemia-inducing drugs: insulin or oral antidiabetic drugs [OAD]), the intervention (concomitantly use of NSAID), and the outcomes related to safety (gastrointestinal, renal, cardiovascular toxicity) and glycemic control. Titles and abstracts of retrieved articles meeting inclusion criteria from the search were reviewed. Only randomized controlled trials (RCT), or cohort studies were included. ResultsA total of 33 studies were reviewed in detail, and 11 were finally included, 10 low quality RCT, and 1 prospective cohort study with moderate quality, which included 199 patients. All patients were diabetics; mostly young or middle aged men, on different NSAID and hypoglycemic drugs. There was no evidence of important changes in patient's glycemic controls, nor in their renal function, when combining NSAID with hypoglycemia-inducing drugs. Moreover, there is no clear increase in the number of serious side effects. ConclusionsAccording to the published evidence, there are not enough arguments to contraindicate the use of NSAID with hypoglycemia-inducing drugs (insulin or OAD).