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Side effects

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include:

  • dyspepsia and peptic ulceration
  • bleeding related to antiplatelet activity
  • occasionally, skin rashes
  • NSAID's particularly aspirin can trigger asthma
  • renal toxicity:
    • most commonly acute renal failure secondary to the haemodynamic changes produced by the prostaglandin synthesis inhibition of NSAID's. This is more likely in patients who have impaired renal or hepatic function, heart failure and the elderly.
    • interstitial nephritis that is not dose related
  • aseptic meningitis - rare but serious
  • analgesia headache

Particular care must taken in elderly patients, the renally impaired, and those with bleeding diatheses.


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