NSAIDs & Your Health

Many people use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which include aspirin and ibuprofen. Some people take them for the occasional headache whilst others take them every day because they have a persistently painful or inflammatory condition such as arthritis.

Unless you are allergic to these drugs, they are unlikely to cause problems when used for short periods at low doses.

NSAIDs work by switching off some of the chemicals that the body produces during inflammation. In particular, they reduce the amount of prostaglandin that is produced in inflamed joints.

Unfortunately, most NSAIDs have an adverse effect on the stomach due to the reduction in prostaglandin. This is due to the prostaglandin being important in protecting the stomach lining from gastric acid.

Therefore NSAIDs are a particular problem if you need to take them for long periods of time. Your stomach also becomes more vulnerable as you get older, which is also when you are more likely to have aching joints.

If you have NSAID-induced disease, such as an ulcer or gastritis your doctor may advise to stop taking aspirin or NSAIDs while your stomach is healing. It is also a good idea to have little or no alcoholic drink at this time because the alcohol will aggravate the unprotected stomach lining.

If you need to continue with NSAIDs long-term, because of arthritis or another painful condition, you can take various drugs in combination with your NSAID to ease the pain and protect your stomach.

To treat occasional headaches and colds, paracetamol may be useful because it is gentler on the stomach than aspirin. Do read the instructions on any medicines that you buy and ask your pharmacist if you are in any doubt.