According to Stanford University researcher Dr. G. Singh, writing in the American Journal of Medicine, "Conservative calculations estimate that approximately 107,000 patients are hospitalized annually for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-related gastrointestinal complications, and at least 16,500 NSAID-related deaths occur each year among arthritis patients alone."

Aspirin and related drugs kill almost as many people every year as AIDS and are responsible for a ''silent epidemic'', researchers said in an article to be released Thursday........A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that NSAIDs were the culprit in 15% of all drug-induced cases of kidney failure. Exacerbation of asthma, thinning of the bones, allergic reactions, immune system depression, and prolonged bleeding time are also associated with long-term NSAID use. http://www.uptoyou.nu/magtimes/overthecounterdanger.html

Ibuprofen Induced Meningitis
"A young woman had contracted a seemingly life-threatening meningitis three times within a year. She had no other signs of infection, and each time a series of tests was unable to determine the cause. It turned out to be a violent allergic reaction to the pain-killer ibuprofen (brand names: Apsifen Brufen Cuprofen Fenbid Inoven Motrin Nurofen  Proflex.-------The list of medications associated with DIAM (Drug Induced Aseptic Meningitis) includes antibiotics (Cotrimoxazole, Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole), human immune globulins, chemotherapeutic agents such as Cytarabin and also miscellaneous drugs such as Carbamazepine, radiographic agents, some vaccines or Muromonab-CD3.

 

http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/031097/ibuprofe.htm  "But the researchers cautioned against widespread use of ibuprofen in an effort to stave off the debilitating disease, which affects as many as 4 million Americans, most of them over the age of 65. The drug can cause peptic ulcers and kidney damage.  ''Ibuprofen can shut down your kidneys,'' said Dr. Claudia Kawas of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. ''That would be a terrible thing to do while trying to prevent something you might not even get."

Patients with chronic hepatitis C often take the over-the-counter non-steroidal drug Ibuprofen, otherwise known as Motrin or Advil, to combat joint pain that often accompanies the disease. Even a low dose could lead to unsuspecting liver damage. http://www.medscape.com/MedscapeWire/1998/09.98/medwire0916.hepatitis.html