The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7203 p861-867
22 June 2002

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European League Against Rheumatism (www.eular.org)

Survey shows that patients are unaware of NSAID risks

Almost half of all people taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for chronic arthritis pain in the United Kingdom are unaware of the potential side effects of these agents, authors of a European survey presented at the European League Against Rheumatism meeting held last week have warned.

The survey of 5,027 people with arthritis included 200 from the UK. Of the UK patients, 49 per cent were unaware that NSAIDs could cause any side effects and fewer than one-third (31 per cent) said their doctor had warned them about possible side effects. Only 17 per cent had been given a leaflet about treatment options.

The survey was carried out by the Arthritis Action Group, a European group of doctors and pharmacologists, and was sponsored by Pharmacia and Pfizer.