NSAIDs can be killer drugs for around 20 percent of arthritis sufferers—but they’re still prescribed them

If you develop osteoarthritis, your doctor will automatically prescribe an NSAID (non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory) painkiller.

But around one in five people shouldn’t be given the drug because they can suffer dangerous reactions, a new study has discovered.  They could also be prescribed opioids, which have a high risk of addiction.

Doctors shouldn’t even be prescribing painkillers of any sort as a first-response treatment.  Instead, treatment guidelines emphasise physical activity and exercise to combat the problem, say researchers from Boston University School of Medicine.

They analysed data from Sweden which included people who had been newly diagnosed with osteoarthritis between 2004 and 2013.  Of these, 21 percent were taking NSAIDs—and a fifth of these shouldn’t be taking the drugs at all because they were more likely to suffer a serious reaction.

NSAIDs are responsible for more emergency hospital treatment than any other drug.

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