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Painkillers Damage Intestine, U.S. Expert
Says
(Washington, Reuters Health, 1/4/05)
Dr. David Y. Graham of the Baylor College of Medicine in
Houston, and team, used an endoscope to examine the
intestines of 21 patients taking non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and 20 taking acetaminophen
(the active ingredient in Tylenol), or nothing. The
researchers found that more than 70% of subjects who took
NSAIDs for more than three months suffered small intestine
injury, including erosion and ulcers, compared with only 10%
of controls. These findings suggest that, when giving
patients NSAIDs, healthcare providers must consider the
tendency of these drugs to cause damage to the digestive
system and weigh this risk against the benefit of their
ability to control pain.
(Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology,
January 2005) |
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