Latest research has shown that Tennis Elbow is not, as previously thought, an inflammatory condition so the prescribing of anti-inflammatory drugs by doctors is not an effective treatement. However, any trip to your local GP may well result in the prescription of an anti-inflammatory, usually Brufen. So…
What are the possible side-effects and risks?
Most people who take anti-inflammatories have no side-effects, or only minor ones. Read the leaflet that comes with the tablets for a full list of cautions and possible side-effects. One important caution is that, ideally, you should not take anti-inflammatories if you are pregnant. The following highlight some of the more important side-effects to be aware of.
Bleeding into the stomach and gut
Anti-inflammatories sometimes cause the lining of the stomach to bleed. Sometimes a stomach ulcer develops. Sometimes bleeding is severe, and even life-threatening. Elderly people are more prone to this problem, but it can occur in anybody. Therefore, if you are taking an anti-inflammatory and you develop upper abdominal pains, pass blood or black stools, or vomit blood, then stop taking the tablets and see a doctor as soon as possible, or go to a casualty department.
The risk of bleeding into the stomach is increased if you are taking an anti-inflammatory plus warfarin, steroids, or low-dose aspirin (used by many people to help prevent a heart attack or stroke). These combinations of drugs should only be used if absolutely necessary.
Some people need an anti-inflammatory to ease pain, and yet are at increased risk of stomach bleeding. For example, people over 65, or those with a past history of a stomach or duodenal ulcer. In such cases another drug may also be prescribed to protect the lining of the stomach from the effects of the anti-inflammatory. This usually prevents bleeding and ulcers from developing if you take an anti-inflammatory. Another option sometimes considered is to take an anti-inflammatory that some studies suggest may possibly have a lower risk of causing stomach bleeding. These type of anti-inflammatories are called selective cox-2 inhibitors and include celecoxib, etoricoxib, and lumiracoxib. However, you should not take a selective cox-2 inhibitor if you have ischaemic heart disease (angina, heart attack, heart failure, etc) or cerebrovascular disease (stroke).
If you have asthma, high blood pressure, heart failure or kidney failure
In some people with asthma, symptoms such as wheeze or breathlessness are made worse by anti-inflammatories. Seek medical help if your asthma suddenly becomes worse after taking an anti-inflammatory. Also, anti-inflammatories can sometimes make high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney failure worse. If you have any of these conditions, you may be more closely monitored if you are prescribed an anti-inflammatory.
Some other side-effects that sometimes occur include:
Nausea (feeling sick), diarrhoea, rashes, headache, dizziness, nervousness, depression, drowsiness, insomnia (poor sleep), vertigo (dizziness), and tinnitus (noises in the ear). If one or more of these occur they will usually ease off if you stop taking the tablets. There are also a number of other uncommon side-effects – see the leaflet in the tablet packet for details.
