most common side effects associated with the traditional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.
Gastrointestinal (GI) irritation, nausea, and impairment of platelet aggregation are the most common side effects associated with the traditional NSAIDs. These side effects may lead to dyspepsia, GI ulcers, and bleeding. Some of the nonacetylated salicylates (e.g., choline magnesium trisalicylate) do not inhibit platelet function. Other known side effects include peripheral edema and elevated blood pressure. Risk for renal toxicity is further increased in patients with underlying diabetes and hypertension. COX inhibitors may be associated with fewer GI risks compared to classic NSAIDs, but this has only been demonstrated in short-term studies. There are no well-controlled studies to show this holds for long-term use. The risk for renal toxicity does not appear to be any different. COX inhibitors carry the same black box warning as NSAIDs. As such caution should be the watch word with the long-term use of NSAIDs, including COX inhibitors
