|By Daniel El-Bogdadi, MD, FACR|
Arthritis and Rheumatism Associates, P.C.
|Back to Educational Articles >|
My patient never knew that all three medications were nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that, in combination or sometimes alone, may decrease kidney function. I spent a great deal of time thinking about how I could try to prevent this from happening again to any of our patients, which is why I have written this article for you.
Aspirin, produced in 1897 by Felix Hoffman of the Bayer company, was the first NSAID. Later, phenyl-butazone and indomethacin were introduced. At that time, the mechanism of the action of these medications was unknown. Dr. John Vane eventually discovered that these medications work by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, which promote inflammation and pain. After that discovery, the pharmaceutical industry was able to produce similar agents such as ibuprofen and naproxen, which we now know inhibit the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX).
After recognizing that COX was the target enzyme, numerous NSAIDs have been introduced since the early 1970s. In response to side effects from steroids (prednisone and cortisone), the pharmaceutical industry coined the term “nonsteroidal” because these NSAIDs were not prednisone or cortisone. These medications, however, which were formulated to have a lower side effect potential than steroids, actually had their own potential severe adverse effects. One of the first NSAIDs, phenylbutazone, eventually was removed from the market when a number of cases reported that it caused aplastic anemia.
NSAIDs increase the risk of stomach ulcerations and bleeding, which prompted the development of specific medications that selectively target the COX-2 enzyme. Theoretically, this would reduce the risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding. Celebrex, among other COX-2 inhibitors, received FDA approval in 1998.These drugs did show less gastrointestinal bleeding but were noted to cause an increased risk of clotting, leading to a slight increase of heart attacks and strokes in at-risk patients.
All NSAIDs, however, cause a decrease in kidney function by limiting blood flow to the kidney. It is important to note that when normal, healthy
individuals take an NSAID, their kidney function mildly decreases transiently and most of those patients are able to recover. In the setting of
As noted in my story, patients need to be cautious about what they are taking, and aware that combinations of various NSAIDs should be avoided. This is especially true of a patient who may be taking an over-thecounter NSAID and a prescription NSAID at the same time! Always be
List of NSAIDs
Click here for a downloadable pdf.