PMID- 16416304 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20061030 LR - 20221207 IS - 0031-6970 (Print) IS - 0031-6970 (Linking) VI - 62 IP - 3 DP - 2006 Mar TI - Gastro-intestinal problems and concomitant medication in NSAID users: additional findings from a questionnaire-based survey in Italy. PG - 235-41 AB - BACKGROUND: In a previous questionnaire-based survey, we found extensive use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in subjects with risk factors for serious gastrointestinal complications. AIM: This study focused on the use of NSAIDs in subjects who reported either (a) pre-existing disorders which would have required caution in using NSAIDs (e.g. dyspepsia/heartburn or peptic ulcer) or (b) co-medication with drugs having a high risk of interacting with NSAIDs. METHODS: Between March and September 2002, 65 general practitioners (GPs) submitted a validated self-administered questionnaire on health status and drug use to 3,250 subjects (age >or=18 years, stratified by sex and age). The questionnaire was divided into three parts: (1) sociodemographic information, (2) symptoms/illnesses (in the previous 6 months) and (3) drugs taken during the previous week. RESULTS: Of the 2,738 subjects who filled in the questionnaire (84% of responders), 633 (23%) used NSAIDs and, among them, 114 (18%) were chronic users. Among the subjects reporting dyspepsia/heartburn or ulcer (n=909 of 2,738), 24% were occasional NSAID users and 6% chronic users. Of the chronic NSAID users reporting gastrointestinal symptoms, 35% also used a drug for acid-related disorders, but only 14% used daily a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). One hundred six subjects used concomitantly more than one NSAID. Eighteen percent of the subjects using corticosteroids also reported NSAID use; similar proportions were seen in subjects using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants or calcium channel blockers, whereas 6% of the subjects with oral anticoagulants used NSAIDs. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that NSAIDs are frequently used in patients with upper gastrointestinal complaints or in combination with potentially interacting medications. Adverse effects and untoward drug interactions should be monitored in patients treated with NSAIDs in order to minimise their occurrence. FAU - Silvani, Maria Chiara AU - Silvani MC AD - Department of Pharmacology and Interuniversity Research Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. FAU - Motola, Domenico AU - Motola D FAU - Poluzzi, Elisabetta AU - Poluzzi E FAU - Bottoni, Ambrogio AU - Bottoni A FAU - De Ponti, Fabrizio AU - De Ponti F FAU - Vaccheri, Alberto AU - Vaccheri A FAU - Montanaro, Nicola AU - Montanaro N LA - eng PT - Journal Article PT - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't DEP - 20060117 PL - Germany TA - Eur J Clin Pharmacol JT - European journal of clinical pharmacology JID - 1256165 RN - 0 (Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal) RN - 0 (Anticoagulants) RN - 0 (Calcium Channel Blockers) RN - 0 (Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors) SB - IM MH - Adult MH - Aged MH - Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/*adverse effects/therapeutic use MH - Anticoagulants/adverse effects/therapeutic use MH - Calcium Channel Blockers/adverse effects/therapeutic use MH - Drug Interactions MH - Drug Therapy, Combination MH - Dyspepsia/chemically induced MH - Female MH - Gastrointestinal Diseases/*chemically induced MH - Health Surveys MH - Heartburn/chemically induced MH - Humans MH - Italy MH - Male MH - Middle Aged MH - Peptic Ulcer/chemically induced MH - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/adverse effects/therapeutic use MH - *Surveys and Questionnaires EDAT- 2006/01/18 09:00 MHDA- 2006/10/31 09:00 CRDT- 2006/01/18 09:00 PHST- 2005/10/27 00:00 [received] PHST- 2005/11/14 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2006/01/18 09:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2006/10/31 09:00 [medline] PHST- 2006/01/18 09:00 [entrez] AID - 10.1007/s00228-005-0078-7 [doi] PST - ppublish SO - Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2006 Mar;62(3):235-41. doi: 10.1007/s00228-005-0078-7. Epub 2006 Jan 17.