TREAT HELICOBACTER BEFORE PRESCRIBING NONSTEROIDALS
Report #7242
A report in the medical journal, Lancet shows that the person most likely to suffer a stomach ulcer when taking pain medicines for arthritis is infected with the germ that causes ulcers before he took the pain medicine.
More than 80% of people with stomach and upper intestinal ulcers are infected with a bacteria called Helicobacter, which can be cured with a one-week course of antibiotics. Non steroidals are the drugs most commonly prescribed to control muscle and joint pains, but most people who take them develop belching and burning in their stomachs which often leads to stomach ulcers. Non steroidals include ibuprofen, Motrin, Tolectin, Anaprox, Orudis, and so forth.
In this study, patients were checked for helicobacter infection before they were treated with nonsteroidals. Those who were infected with helicobacter and were treated with antibiotics did not develop stomach ulcers, but more than 25% of those infected with helicobacter who were treated with nonsteroidals developed stomach ulcers. This study shows that before people take non steroidals to treat muscle and joint pains, they should get a blood test to check them for helicobacter. According to this study, those who are infected with helicobacter may benefit from a one week course of two antibiotics and one ulcer medicine to cure the helicobacter before they take nonsteroidal drugs. This is new thinking so check with your doctor first.
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D., for CBS Radio News
1) Chan FKL et al. Randomized trial of eradication of Helicobacter pylori before
non-steroidal ant-inflammatory drug therapy to prevent peptic ulcers. Lancet 1997(October
4);350:975-979. 2) CD Roseveare, DG Colinjones. Helicobacter pylori and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs: lone agents or partners in crime? European Journal of Gastroenterology &
Hepatology. 9:10 (OCT 1997):935-937. 3) A Pilotto, M Franceschi, G Leandro, F Dimario, G Valerio. The effect of Helicobacter
pylori infection on NSAID-related gastroduodenal damage in the elderly. European Journal
of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 9: 10 (OCT 1997):951-956.
Reported 10/6/97; Checked 9/5/05