Using more than one painkiller risky

Taking more than one non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for pain relief may increase the risk of complications. Prior research has established a strong link between multiple NSAID use and gastrointestinal problems, but it was unclear if this practice affected health-related quality of life. To investigate this association, researchers in America interviewed 138 patients from a large regional managed care organisation who had taken one or more NSAID prescription between February and August 2002. Overall, 26 per cent of the patients used two or more NSAIDs. These patients scored lower on the physical component of a quality of life questionnaire than did single-NSAID users, suggesting a poorer health-related quality of life. Thus, while patients take more than one NSAID in order to self-manage their pain to improve their daily activities, the findings suggest that they may be putting themselves at risk for complications. However, further research is warranted to find out whether multiple NSAID use impairs health-related quality of life itself or whether it simply reflects a more severe underlying disease that is responsible.