REVIEW - OTC analgesics and drug interactions

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Osteopath Med Prim Care. 2008; 2: 2.

Published online 2008 February 7. doi: 10.1186/1750-4732-2-2. PMCID: PMC2257951

OTC analgesics and drug interactions: clinical implications

A Mark Fendrick,1 Deborah E Pan,2 and Grace E 3

1Professor, Internal Medicine/Health Management and Policy, University

of Michigan Medical Center, 300 North Ingalls Building, Room 7E16, Ann

Arbor, MI 48109 USA

2Medical Director, Scientific Therapeutics Information, Inc., 505

Avenue – 3rd Floor, Springfield, NJ 07081 USA

3Senior Medical Director, Scientific Therapeutics Information, Inc.,

505 Avenue – 3rd Floor, Springfield, NJ 07081 USA

Abstract

The risk of drug interactions with concurrent use of multiple

medications is a clinically relevant issue. Many patients are unaware

that over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics can cause potentially serious

adverse effects when used in combination with other common medications

such as anticoagulants, corticosteroids, or antihypertensive agents.

Of particular significance is the increased risk of upper abdominal

gastrointestinal adverse events in patients who take traditional

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This risk is dose

dependent and further increased in patients who take more than one

NSAID or use NSAIDs in combination with certain other medications.

Some NSAIDs may also mitigate the antiplatelet benefits of aspirin and

may increase blood pressure in patients with hypertension. Clinicians

should be aware of potential drug interactions with OTC analgesics

when prescribing new medications. Additionally, patients should be

properly counseled on the appropriate and safe use of OTC analgesics.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2257951

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