Did you know that if you have once had or recovered and healed from a bleeding ulcer associated with use of aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen (generally grouped as NSAIDS) for pain, you have 1 out of 5 chances of having a major bleeding recurrence within 6 months if you resume taking an NSAID? And bleeding can be fatal. This is an avoidable consequence if doctors include adjunctive treatment with GI-protective medications when use of NSAID for pain in an individual is inevitable. Recent studies however reveal that prolonged use of certain types of gastric protective medications are not without significant risks that vary according to groups1. Engage your doctor in this discussion about your treatment if you fall into this category.
Studies in a Hong Kong population showed that despite endoscopic proof of complete ulcer healing, the reinitiation of NSAID therapy without a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) resulted in a recurrent ulcer bleeding rate of nearly 20% over a 6-month time frame. The studies prove the relative effectiveness of the various treatment strategies in the secondary prevention of NSAID-induced bleeding ulcer disease. Reference: Lanza FL, Chan FK, Quigley EM; Guidelines for prevention of NSAID-related ulcer complications. Am J Gastroenterol. 2009 Mar;104(3):728-38