The aim of this study is to assess dentists’ knowledge of NSAIDs risks and to determine the most prescribed NSAIDs by dentists.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) belong to a group of drugs that display anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-pyretic effects.
They are among the best selling drugs all over the world and are sold over the counter. However, the use of NSAIDs is also associated with several adverse effects both in healthy individuals and in those with risk factors.
NSAIDs inhibit the cyclooxygenase (COX) activity competing with the arachidonic acid (AA) for the COX active site, inhibiting the prostaglandin production, but are not capable of inhibiting the formation of other inflammatory mediators, such as leukotrienes or platelet-activating factor.
After the discovery of the COX-2 isoform, a second generation of NSAIDs became available, the COX-2 selective inhibitors or COXIBs, which were developed to prevent the gastrointestinal (GI) side effects associated with the use of traditional NSAIDs.
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Unfortunately, the COXIB story is a rise and fall story, because several COXIBs were withdrawn from the market after evidence of increasing the risk for myocardial infarction and stroke.
