Beyond Pain Relief: Exploring the Hidden Renal Consequences of NSAID Therapy

Background

Older adults are especially vulnerable to peptic ulcers, gastrointestinal irritation, and fluid retention caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It is common to inappropriately prescribe NSAIDs for osteoarthritis before adequately addressing physical and functional interventions along with oral paracetamol. If an NSAID is necessary as a supplementary treatment, it should be administered at the lowest effective dosage. Ibuprofen is likely the preferred NSAID for reducing gastrointestinal side effects. A proton pump inhibitor should be considered to prevent upper gastrointestinal complications in individuals at higher risk.