ANNOUNCER: The most common side effects include mild stomach upset - sometimes called dyspepsia - and acid indigestion.
STUART SPECHLER, MD: The indigestion, we as physicians tend to think of that as a minor side effect. Now, if you're the one experiencing the indigestion, you probably don't think of it as a minor side effect. But what we really worry about with the NSAIDs are the ulcers that can occur, which can cause some very serious complications, like bleeding, or even perforation of the stomach.
ANNOUNCER: These ulcers are more common than many people realize. Often there's no warning.
LAUREN GERSON, MD: Unfortunately, approximately 80% of patients who come in with a complication don't have any prior symptoms. But if a patient starts to complain of stomach pain, if they see dark stool, change in the color of their stool, or they start to experience vomiting, they should definitely consult their physician. They may have a potential complication.
BYRON CRYER, MD: When thinking about ulcers and complications of ulcers, they can occur in as many as 1 in 20 people who take NSAIDs. We've seen it across the spectrum. Looking at populations of individuals who take NSAIDs, as many as 4%, 5% of people who take the older class of NSAIDs -- for example, ibuprofen or naproxen -- could experience a serious problem such as a gastrointestinal bleed.
ANNOUNCER: Some people are more likely than others to experience problems.
