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[tvoivozhd <tvoivozd AT infionline.net>]

A lot of what we know is not correct---you have to keep checking for 
conclusions based on later studies---NSAIDS being one example. Last 
August the conclusion of the medical community was that up to 3600 Mg 
per day of Ibuprofen wouldn't hurt you. Wrong!

Here's the latest: Note that Tylenol is nor a NSAID, but has its own set 
of hazards, i.e. he top recommended doses of acetaminophen are 4 grams a 
day -- that's eight extra-strength tablets -- for adults and 90 
milligrams per kilogram a day for children. A single dose of 150 mg per 
kilogram, or about 7 grams, is considered poisonous to the average adult.


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/Source:/       *American Gastroenterological Association*      
/Date:/         2005-01-16
/URL:/  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/01/050111123706.htm

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   Study Shows Long-term Use Of NSAIDs Causes Severe Intestinal Damage

Bethesda, Maryland (Jan. 3, 2005) – According to a study published today 
in the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) journal Clinical 
Gastroenterology and Hepatology, chronic users of non-steroidal 
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have an increased risk of bleeding and 
visible damage to their small intestine.

"We have always known that NSAIDs can cause potentially deadly stomach 
complications, but the extent of the impact on the small intestine was 
largely unknown until now," said David Graham, MD, lead study author. 
"The introduction of video capsule endoscopy gave us an opportunity to 
examine the small intestine and learn that NSAIDs can cause severe 
damage to this organ."

Everyday more than 30 million people take over-the-counter and 
prescription NSAIDs for pain relief, headaches and arthritis. Currently, 
there are about 20 NSAIDs available by prescription only. Many, 
including ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin and ketoprofen are available over 
the counter.* Although NSAIDs and aspirin provide great benefit in terms 
of pain relief and cardioprotective effects, there is an increased risk 
of gastrointestinal complications ranging from stomach pain to ulcers. 
Moreover, these drugs are responsible for severe and potentially deadly 
gastrointestinal problems. Each year, the side effects of long-term 
NSAID use cause nearly 103,000 hospitalizations and 16,500 deaths. More 
people die each year from NSAIDs-related complications than from AIDS 
and cervical cancer in the United States.

This study analyzed 43 generally healthy patients, including those who 
use NSAIDs daily for relief of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or 
non-specific arthritis, and a control group who did not use NSAIDs or 
aspirin for their arthritis symptoms. Results show that 71 percent of 
those who were exposed to NSAIDs for more than 90 days had visible 
injury to their small intestine. Injury in these people ranged from 
small erosions to severe ulcers. Symptoms of dyspepsia (indigestion) 
associated with NSAID use are common in those who use these drugs long-term.

Study authors are hopeful that the use of video capsule endoscopy will 
allow future researchers to determine how often dyspepsia symptoms 
originate from small intestine injury and whether NSAID-associated small 
intestine damage causing anemia and leakage of blood proteins 
(hypoalbuminemia) can be attributed to specific findings visible by 
capsule endoscopy.

"Diseases of the small intestine contribute significantly to ill-health 
and often go undetected or misdiagnosed," said Graham. "We hope further 
studies will determine the clinical significance of our findings which 
show that extensive NSAID-related damage to the small intestine occurs 
more frequently than previously reported."

In 2003, the AGA launched the R.E.D.U.C.E. (Risk Education to Decrease 
Ulcer Complications and Their Effects from NSAIDs) Campaign to help 
explain the potentially harmful effects of NSAIDs and how Americans can 
lower their risk for serious gastrointestinal problems.

###

More information for consumers about the possible risks associated with 
NSAIDs is http://available at <http://available%20at> www.2reduce.org.

About the Study

Researchers at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor 
College of Medicine in Houston conducted a study to determine whether 
video capsule endoscopy can detect NSAID-associated small intestinal 
injury in people who have used NSAIDs continuously for more than three 
months. The study included 43 patients, ranging in age from 22 to 66, 
who took NSAIDs daily for varying types of arthritis, and a control 
group. Study participants were monitored for seven hours using the video 
capsule endoscopy system, Given Diagnostic Imaging System manufactured 
by Given Imaging, LTD. Video capsules were supplied by Given Imaging, 
LTD, but they had no input into study design or analysis. The Department 
of Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development, Medical Research 
Service is the lead funding institution on this study.

About the AGA

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) is dedicated to the 
mission of advancing the science and practice of gastroenterology. 
Founded in 1897, the AGA is the oldest medical-specialty society in the 
United States. The AGA's 14,000 members include physicians and 
scientists who research, diagnose and treat disorders of the 
gastrointestinal tract and liver. On a monthly basis, the AGA publishes 
two highly respected journals, Gastroenterology and Clinical 
Gastroenterology and Hepatology. The AGA's annual meeting is Digestive 
Disease Week, which is held each May and is the largest international 
gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of 
gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.

About Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology

The mission of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology is to provide 
readers with a broad spectrum of themes in clinical gastroenterology and 
hepatology. This monthly peer-reviewed journal includes original 
articles as well as scholarly reviews, with the goal that all articles 
published will be immediately relevant to the practice of 
gastroenterology and hepatology.

* Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is not in the class of non-steroidal 
anti-inflammatory drugs.

*Editor's Note:* The original news release can be found here 
<http://www.gastro.org/media/newsRelease05/agaNSAIDsCauses.html>.

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/This story has been adapted from a news release issued by American 
Gastroenterological Association./