2023-05-03 14:20:00
THE nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are drugs that help reduce or eliminate the symptoms linked to an inflammatory phenomenon. Often available without a prescription, these treatments also have analgesic (against pain) and antipyretic (against fever) properties. Among the most common are ibuprofen and ketoprofen. However, if these drugs are easily accessible, they are not without health risks.
In a press release published on April 28, the ANSM warned of their potential risks: “Several cases of infectious complicationssometimes fatal in adults and children who have taken nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), on prescription or self-medicationwere reported to us in March 2023 by regional pharmacovigilance centers (CRPV)”. But what are the real risks of these treatments?
NSAIDs: what health risks?
One of the main health risks of NSAIDs is mixing them with other treatments. “These complications can occur in case of co-prescription of antibiotics“, explains the health agency. Another risk of NSAIDs is that they can mask certain symptoms such as fever and pain. Thus, these symptoms, which can be harbingers of serious pathologies, can be ignored and lead to a delay in diagnosis and patient management. “This can result in a risk of serious complications from the infection.“, specifies the ANSM.
If these treatments are readily available, they must therefore be taken with great caution. As France faces an upsurge in strep A cases and many people turn to NSAIDs, the ANSM wanted to remind you of the best practices to follow.
NSAIDs: ANSM advice for taking them without risk
To avoid risks, the ANSM wanted to remind the right things to do. The health agency recommends favoring the use of paracetamol in the event of: “pain or feverespecially in a context of common infection such as sore throat, nasopharyngitis, ear infection, cough, lung infection, dental infection, skin lesion or varicella”.
In cases where nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs must be used to calm fever or pain, here are the recommendations of the health agency:
- Prescribing and using NSAIDs at the lowest possible dose and for the shortest possible duration (3 days if fever, 5 days if pain);
- Stop treatment as soon as symptoms disappear;
- Do not take several NSAIDs at the same time;
- Avoiding NSAIDs for Chickenpox.
The ANSM also calls on parents not to give fever medication to their child if the child’s temperature does not exceed 38.5°C.
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