II. Indications
- Analgesia
- Antpyretic
- Antiinflammatory
III. Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity (including Allergic Triad)
- Peptic Ulcer Disease
- Anticoagulation or other significant bleeding risks
- Cardiovascular disease (esp. post-CABG)
- Pregnancy (esp. first and third trimester)
- Lactation of newborns (may provoke Hyperbilirubinemia)
IV. Mechanism
- Blocks Cyclooxygenase (COX)
- COX Enzyme converts Arachidonic Acid to PGG2
- COX1 Enzyme
- Location
- Gastric mucosa and intestinal mucosa
- Platelets
- Renal
- Vascular endothelium
- Inhibition Effects
- Predisposes to gastric or intestinal ulcers
- Predisposes to bleeding (anti-Platelet adhesion)
- No anti-inflammatory effect
- Renal effects
- Fluid retention
- Decreased Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
- Location
- COX2 Enzyme
- Location
- Inhibition Effects
- Anti-inflammatory action
- Analgesic action
- Predisposes to Renal Injury in Hypovolemia
- Decreased malignant potential of Colonic Polyps
- May have benefit in Alzheimer's Disease
V. Precautions
- Peptic Ulcer risk, nephrotoxicity, and Cardiovascular Risk are FDA black box warnings
VI. Medications: Non-Opioid Alternatives to NSAIDs
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Non-acetylated Salicylate
- Low dose Prednisone (Rheumatoid Arthritis)
- Single joint local Corticosteroid Injection
- Topical NSAID (e.g. Diclofenac Gel)
- Lidocaine Patch
- Capsaicin Topically
VII. Medications: COX2 Selective NSAIDs
- More COX2 Selective
- Celecoxib (Celebrex) 200 mg PO qd-bid
- Rofecoxib (Vioxx)
- No longer available in the United States due to Cardiovascular Risks
- Relatively COX2 Selective
VIII. Medications: Acetic acids
- Partially COX2 selective (less GI adverse effects)
- Indoles
- Pyrrolo-pyrroles: Parenteral NSAID
- Ketorolac Tromethamine (Toradol)
- Ketorolac 10 to 30 mg IV (or 30 to 60 mg IM)
- Ketorolac Tromethamine (Toradol)
IX. Medications: Salicylates
- See Salicylate
- Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin) 500-1000 mg every 4-6 hours
- Trisalicylate (Trilisate) 1000-1500 mg every 8-12 hours
-
Diflunisal (Dolobid) 500 mg every 8-12 hours
- Risk of Acute Interstitial Nephritis
- Compared with Aspirin, lower risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Tinnitus
- Salsalate (Disalcid)
- Sodium Salicylate (Uracil 5)
- Sodium thiosalicylate (Tusal)
X. Medications: Propionic Acids
-
Ibuprofen (Motrin)
- Ibuprofen 400 mg comparable to Tylenol #3
- Naproxen (Naprosyn) 500 mg q12 hours
- Naproxen Sodium (Anaprox) 550 mg q12 hours
- Flurbiprofen (Ansaid) 200-300 mg/day divided twice to four times daily
-
Fenoprofen (Nalfon) 200 mg q4-6 hours
- Similar to Aspirin (but more potent)
- Avoid in Renal Insufficiency
- Increased genitourinary adverse effects (e.g. Dysuria, Hematuria, nephropathy)
- Decreased gastrointestinal adverse effects
-
Ketoprofen (Orudis) 25-75 mg q6-8 hours
- Ketoprofen 25 mg comparable to Ibuprofen 400 mg
- Ketoprofen 50 mg more potent than Tylenol #3
- Oxaprozin (Daypro) 1200 mg orally daily
XI. Medications: Oxicams
-
General
- Long half life (once a day dosing)
-
Meloxicam (Mobic) 7.5 to 15 mg orally daily
- Despite being touted as more COX-2 specific, still has moderate gastrointestinal adverse effects
-
Piroxicam (Feldene) 20 mg orally daily (or divided twice daily)
- Additional mechanisms beyond inhibition of Prostaglandin synthesis
- Inhibits Neutrophil aggregation
- Inhibits Lysosome enzyme release
- Additional mechanisms beyond inhibition of Prostaglandin synthesis
XII. Medications: Fenamate
- Anthranilic Acid
- Meclofenamate (Meclomen) 50-100 mg PO q4-6 hours
- Mefenamic Acid (Ponstel)
- Dysmenorrhea: Initial 500 mg orally, then 250 mg orally every 6 hours for up to 1 week
- Acetic Acid: Diclofenac (Voltaren, Arthrotec)
- Precaution
- Other NSAIDs are preferred over Diclofenac
- Diclofenac is not recommended
- Cardiovascular Risk (similar to vioxx)
- Hepatotoxicity risk
- Increased GI toxicity risk
- References
- (2013) Presc Lett 20(7):42
- Oral
- DiclofenacPotassium (Cataflam) 50 mg orally every 8 hours (Comparable to Aspirin)
- Faster absorption (hence faster onset) than DiclofenacSodium (Voltaren)
- Diclofenac XR 100 mg orally daily
- Arthrotec (50 mg Diclofenac with 200 mcg Misoprostol)
- Zorvolex 18 or 35 mg orally every 8 hours
- Released in 2014 as expensive, lower dose version of DiclofenacPotassium 50 mg
- No evidence of improved safety or similar efficacy to the lower priced, higher dose (50 mg) tablet
- Recommendations are still to use other systemic NSAIDs instead of Diclofenac
- (2014) Presc Lett 21(2): 9
- DiclofenacPotassium (Cataflam) 50 mg orally every 8 hours (Comparable to Aspirin)
- Topical
- Diclofenac Gel (Pennsaid)
- Flector Patch (applied to most painful area every 12 hours)
- Precaution
XIII. Adverse Effects
- See NSAID Gastrointestinal Adverse Effects
- See NSAID Renal Adverse Effects
- Bleeding risk
- Reversible inhibition of Platelet aggregation
- Associated with standard NSAIDs (esp. Naprosyn)
- COX2 Inhibitors have minimal effect on bleeding
- Avoid in patients with Thrombocytopenia and other Platelet disorders
- Stop Aspirin 7-10 days before procedures
- Stop NSAIDS five half-lives prior to the procedure
- Headache
- CNS effects (esp. Indomethacin)
- Hepatotoxicity (esp. oral Diclofenac)
- Musculoskeletal effects
- May delay healing in Tendinopathy
- Increased malunion risk in long bone Fractures (Femur Fracture, Tib-Fib Fracture, Humerus Fracture), Odds Ratio 2
- NSAIDs blunt inflammatory response which is key to laying down new bone
- Indomethacin may be higher risk for nonunion than other nsaids
- Chronic NSAID use prior to Fracture also increases the risk of nonunion
- Jeffcoach (2014) J Trauma Acute Care Surg 76(3): 779-83 [PubMed]
- Longerterm use >3 days has been associated with an increased risk of nonunion or delayed union
- However other human trials have not found significant delayed Fracture healing
- Bone healing in children <11 years old also does not appear to be affected by NSAIDs
- Major orthopedic groups recommend NSAID use after Fracture over Opioids
- Theoretical risk of non-union with NSAIDS is far overshadowed by the real risk of Opioid Use Disorder in the U.S.
- Murphy (2023) Trauma Surg Acute Care Open 8(1): e001056 [PubMed]
- Cardiovascular/cerebrovascular risk (interferes with Aspirin anti-Platelet effects)
- Avoid NSAIDs in patients with vascular disease (risk increases within days of use)
- Avoid all NSAIDs and COX2 Inhibitors in the post-CABG period
- Risk of fluid retention and Congestive Heart Failure exacerbation
- Counters antiplatelet activity of Aspirin
- Take Aspirin 2 hours before or 8 hours post-Ibuprofen
- Take Aspirin 36 hours after last Naproxen
- Naprosyn (Naproxen) may be associated with less Cardiovascular Risk than other NSAIDs
- Celebrex may also be associated with less Cardiovascular Risk than NSAIDS (despite Vioxx history)
- Increased risk with Diclofenac and to a lesser extent Ibuprofen
- Limit NSAID to lowest dose and shortest duration
- (2013) Lancet 382(9894):769-79 +PMID:23726390 [PubMed]
- Bally (2017) BMJ 357:j1909 +PMID:28487435 [PubMed]
- Steinhubl (2005) Am College Card 45:1302 [PubMed]
-
Hypertension
- On average NSAIDs increase Blood Pressure 5 mmHg, in part related to fluid retention
- Blood Pressure increase is more common in Diabetes Mellitus, Congestive Heart Failure, Kidney or liver disease
- Associated with daily use (intermittent use is unlikely to have an effect)
- Decreases efficacy of Antihypertensives
- Calcium Channel Blockers are less affected by NSAID induced Blood Pressure increases
-
Allergic Reaction
-
Allergic Reaction (IgE mediated)
- Avoid all NSAIDs unless otherwise allowed via formal allergy evaluation
- Pseudoallergic reaction
- COX reaction, often associated with Asthma, Nasal Polyps, Allergic Rhinitis
- Assume true Allergic Reaction first and do not retrial with any NSAID until allergy evaluation
- Intollerance to side effect
- Distinguish and offer counter measures or alternative NSAID
- References
- Orman and Hayes in Herbert (2017) EM:Rap 17(3): 8-9
-
Allergic Reaction (IgE mediated)
XIV. Safety
- Safety in Lactation varies across NSAIDs
- Avoid NSAIDs in pregnancy outside the first part of the second trimester (13 to 20 weeks)
- Teratogenic in first trimester
- Risk of premature ductus arteriosus closure in the fetus in third trimester
- Most NSAIDs carry a legacy system Pregnancy Category B or C designation (aside from third trimester)
- However, many obstetricians avoid NSAIDs entirely in pregnancy (even in second trimester)
- Associated adverse effects in pregnancy
- Associated with increased Miscarriage risk when used around the time of conception
- Associated with first trimester congenital anomalies
- Associated with fetal adverse effects after 20 weeks
- Associated with adverse effects after 30 weeks
- Premature ductus arteriosus closure
- Results in fetal Pulmonary Hypertension and fetal death
- Prostaglandins induce systemic and pulmonary vessel relaxation (including ductus arteriosus)
- NSAIDS inhibit Prostaglandin synthesis, resulting in Vasoconstriction
- NSAID induced Vasoconstriction may result in premature ductus arteriosus closure
- References
- Premature ductus arteriosus closure
XV. Drug Interactions
-
Loop Diuretics
- NSAIDS decrease efficacy
- Drug levels may be increased by NSAIDs as a class
-
Anticoagulants (Warfarin, DOACs)
- Avoid in combination with NSAIDs (increased Hemorrhage risk, esp. Gastrointestinal Bleeding)
XVI. Monitoring: Protocol for NSAID use in elderly
- Monitor Blood Pressure
- Labs: Obtain at baseline and every 3-12 months
- Review of Systems for NSAID adverse effects
- References
XVII. References
- (2000) Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia
- Wolfe (1999) N Engl J Med 340:1888 [PubMed]
- (2000) Med Lett Drugs Ther 42(1085):73-8 [PubMed]