HEALTH & WELLNESS
What Are the
Risks of Taking
NSAIDS?
Fast Fact
A
s with all drugs, there is the potential for
an allergic reaction to NSAIDs. Symp-
toms might include hives, facial swelling,
wheezing and skin rash.
There is the potential for gastrointestinal
bleeding (bleeding in the stomach or elsewhere in
the digestive tract) associated with all NSAIDs.
The risk of bleeding is low for people who use
NSAIDs intermittently. The risk of stomach prob-
lems goes up for people who take them every day
or regularly, especially for people who are older
than 65, people with a history of stomach ulcers,
and people who take blood thinners or corticoste-
roids (prednisone). Alcohol use can also increase
the risk of stomach problems.
In addition, using all NSAIDs, except for
aspirin, increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.
These serious side effects can occur as early as
the first few weeks of using an NSAID, and the
risk might rise the longer people take non-aspirin
NSAIDs.
All NSAIDs also carry the risk of potential
skin reactions. Patients should be alert for symp-
toms such as skin reddening, rash or blisters.
https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm107856.htm
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