Complications of therapyNonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: Adverse Effects and Their Prevention
Section snippets
Methods
We searched Medline for English-language articles published up to 2007, using the keywords acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin, NSAIDs, cyclooxygenase-2, adverse effects, ulcer, and cardiovascular. The abstracts were screened for relevance and the publications relating to aspirin and NSAIDs were obtained. Additional references were identified from the bibliographies of the retrieved reports and from review articles. Further sources of information were retrieved from the internet.
The Age of Aspirin
The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory substances predates the dawn of modern medicine. The earliest known references to the medicinal use of myrtle and willow tree bark, original sources of aspirin-like compounds, can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians. The application of willow tree bark for stiff and painful joints is recommended in the Ebers papyrus, a comprehensive 110-page medical text, containing 877 treatises on various physical, mental, and spiritual diseases, which is dated to
Discussion
In summary, NSAIDs are among the oldest, most successful drugs known to modern medicine. NSAIDs are effective for alleviating pain, fever, and inflammation, by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. Aspirin, by its irreversible inhibition of blood platelet function, is also effective in the secondary prevention and, in selected patients, primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In addition, NSAIDs may also inhibit colorectal carcinogenesis.
NSAIDs are mainly indicated for mild to moderate pain
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There are no conflicts of interest and no sources of support.