The Management of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Induced Gastroduodenal Ulcers

Abstract

The risks associated with NSAID-induced gastroduodenal lesions are now relatively well defined. Identification of high-risk patients is important for prophylactic treatment or for maintenance treatment with gastric acid-suppressing medication during NSAID therapy. If patients develop a gastric ulcer and continue to take NSAIDs, all available evidence suggests that strong acid-suppressing therapy is important. Good healing rates have been described with conventional doses of H₂ antagonists, but studies with higher doses have to be awaited. Small prepyloric or antrum ulcers will probably react well to conventional H₂ antagonists; larger crater-like ulcers are probably best treated with omeprazole. When patients develop a duodenal ulcer and continue to take NSAIDs, all available evidence suggests that excellent treatment results can be obtained with conventional doses of H₂ antagonists.

Key Words:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• duodenal ulcer
• gastric ulcer
• H₂ antagonists
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• peptic ulcer