A recent study has sounded the alarm on commonly used drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin, warning certain individuals that taking them long-term could cause “avoidable harm”.
People with conditions such as heart failure and peptic ulcers could be at higher risk, researchers say.
The research indicates that the NHS might be forking out an eye-watering £31 million over a decade due to complications from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) being prescribed to those at risk.
NSAIDs, which include household names like ibuprofen and naproxen, are a go-to remedy for a variety of pains ranging from minor headaches and sprains to the persistent agony of arthritis. They’re available in many forms tablets, capsules, creams, gels, and even injections.
While NSAIDs are generally safe for the majority, they can cause unpleasant side effects in some people, including stomach ulcers and dizziness, and in rare instances, more serious problems such as kidney or liver issues, heart attacks, and strokes.
Despite these potential dangers, the habit of prescribing NSAIDs to high-risk patients is “still common”, according to the study published in The BMJ.
The investigation, which scrutinised past studies on prescription safety in England, identified five groups, particularly at risk from NSAIDs’ adverse effects.
These include:
- People on blood-thinning medication
- Patients with heart failure or chronic kidney disease
- Individuals with a history of peptic ulcers
- Those over 65 who aren’t on gastroprotection drugs to curb gastric acid production
Research models predict that “problematic NSAID prescribing” could cost NHS England an estimated £31.4 million over the next decade, not to mention causing a loss of years in good health for patients.
Researchers highlighted: “NSAIDs continue to be a source of avoidable harm and healthcare cost in these five high-risk populations, especially in inducing an acute event in people with chronic condition and people taking oral anticoagulants.”
There’s been a decline of around 12 percent observed in primary care prescriptions of NSAIDs in England between 2017 and 2022.
In 2022 alone, naproxen – known for relieving joint and muscle pain and inflammation – accounted for a striking 69 percent of all NSAID prescriptions. On the other hand, there’s been a rise of COX-2 inhibitor prescriptions, which are used to manage arthritis pain.
However, NSAID prescriptions for patients with heart risks have decreased, according to the study.
An NHS spokesperson has stated: “Prescribers have been acting to reduce NHS prescribing of NSAIDs in England and this has fallen by more than one in 10, over a five-year period.
“The nationally supported strategy is now focused on optimising medicines use in the NHS, including reducing the use of potentially addictive drugs such as opioid and sleeping pills.
“There is more to do so it is vital that patients and healthcare professionals discuss whether to continue, reduce or stop taking a medicine and consider non-pharmaceutical alternatives that could be more beneficial to ensure prescribing is appropriate and makes best use of taxpayers’ money.”