Drug combo prevents NSAID-related GI disturbance

From Reuters:
Although all of the common strategies protect the upper gastrointestinal tract from the complications of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), popular over-the-counter analgesics such as Motrin (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen), the combination of a COX-2 inhibitor and a proton pump inhibitor is associated with the largest reduction in gastrointestinal complications, according to a Canadian study published in the medical journal Gastroenterology.

COX-2 inhibitors treat pain and inflammation by selectively blocking the COX-2 enzyme, which prevents the production of chemical messengers that cause pain and swelling. They include drugs such as Celebrex (celecoxib). Two other COX-2 inhibitors (Vioxx and Bextra) were taken off the market in the U.S. because of safety concerns. ...more