The use of NSAIDs and patient safety

One of the worse things that people experience in life is pain. Man has been obsessed with the relief of pain since the dawn of civilization where one finds the Egyptians using dried myrtle leaves to relieve back pain, this was later found to contain salicylic acid. Today pain medication is regularly administered throughout the world. One of the most frequently used class of drugs to control pain and inflammation are the NSAIDs. These drugs must be used with caution since they interact with various medicines and can give rise to serious ADRs. The objectives of this study were to assess the pattern of NSAID use in a community pharmacy setting, to identify gaps leading to their improper use and to propose measures to help improve patient safety. The methodology included the use of a national survey and literature review. Results have shown that that although NSAIDs are used for their proper indications, they are over-utilized by the general population in Malta, sometimes with disregard to proper administration, cautions and drug-interactions. This book shows the importance all healthcare professionals have in advising patients about the proper use of their medication.