NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS - NO MORE SAFE FOR CARDIAC PATIENTS

Abstract

“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance ofbeing right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But thetumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.” Thomas Paine1 Common Sense,1776. This seems to also apply in(NSAIDs) wide spread use nowadays. These are one of themost widely prescribed drugs. NSAIDs improve mobility and quality of life and2 delay the need for opiates and strong analgesics with dependency properties.

The take home message is that lowest effective dose of NSAIDs should be usedfor the shortest period of time. Incase of chronic pain consider as required dosingDepartment of Cardiology, LadyReading Hospital, Peshawar, PakistanAddress for Correspondence:Dr. Adnan Mahmood Gul,Associate Professor,Department of Cardiology, LadyReading Hospital, Peshawar, PakistanEmail: adnangul1960@gmail.comNONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS -NO MORE SAFE FOR CARDIAC PATIENTSThis article may be cited as: Gul AM.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugsnomore safe for cardiac patients. PakHeart J 2015;48(01): 1-2.and review regularly. Advise patient regarding potential side effects and do what you can to minimise risks. Monitor BP, renalfunction and liver function in those on long term NSAID use and to avoid NSAIDs in patients with CAD and those multiple CV riskfactors.