Long-Term NSAID Use
What can you tell me about long-term use of NSAIDS for people with osteoarthritis? I take double the normal dose a couple of times a week (with food), when I know I’ll be walking or standing for long periods. Thanks!
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are ubiquitous but they are like most other drugs in that there are definitely pros and cons to taking them, especially long term.
NSAIDS work pretty well at treating pain related to osteoarthritis. They are sold over the counter, but they can be problematic as well, causing gastrointestinal erosions and ulcerations in some people, particularly the elderly. NSAIDS can worsen reflux, but some studies have shown that they may lower the risk of colon cancer and have a protective effect against Alzheimer’s.
If you take NSAIDS regularly, your health care provider will probably recommend you take a proton-pump inhibiter like omeprazole (Prilosec) along with them to lower your risk of GI issues. But that isn’t always enough. Click here to see Consensus Guidelines For Long-Term NSAID Use.
When you have a problem in a specific area such as an ankle, there are newer topical anti-inflammatory medications that may work just as well for you and spare you GI effects. Voltaren gel is one of the topicals. The drawback to this gel is it must be applied every four hours. But it soaks right in to your skin and goes to work on the spot.
My current personal favorite is the Flector Patch. It is like a big sticker that you stick on the area giving you problems. The great thing about the patch is it works for 12 hours and you can keep applying them to the same spot without any wait time in between. They can be cut into sections and applied to more than one spot. The only drawback to the patch is that it isn’t as convenient for some areas, like a hand. That is where the gel is a better choice.
If you have multiple areas causing you pain, NSAIDS are easier. You can’t apply a topical to every part of your body, even though the gel can go on several spots at once. When you use a topical you should not take an oral NSAID at the same time. The main thing about taking NSAIDS long term is to be careful with your dosage and be sure your provider knows what you are taking and that way you can work together on whether you should be taking prophylactic drugs for your gut as well.
