Health
Older, generic NSAID may have lower GI complications
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 6, 2004
Patients who take etodolac, an anti-inflammatory available as a generic, have fewer gastrointestinal complications than those who take over-the-counter naproxen, and this reduction is comparable to that seen with the COX-2 inhibitors, according to a study published in the November Gastroenterology.
Researchers at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center retrospectively analyzed the records of more than 16,000 patients over a three-year period who took either drug. According to the paper, 0.78% of patients on naproxen experienced a significant upper gastrointestinal complication while only 0.24% of those on etodolac did. The difference disappeared if the patients were also taking low-dose aspirin.
Authors suggested that this drug may be a viable option to relieve patient's pain because of the recent controversy over COX-2 inhibitors. Vioxx (rofecoxib) was pulled from the market at the end of September because of studies linking it to increased cardiovascular risk, and there is question if the other COX-2 inhibitors convey the same risk. Since etodolac is available generically, there also could be significant cost-savings.
"As much as an 80% cost-savings can be achieved if patients were to use it rather than branded medications," said Byron Cryer, MD, lead author and associate professor of Internal Medicine -- Digestive and Liver Diseases at Texas Southwestern.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/12/06/hlbf1206.htm.
