Trends in the utilization of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the United States, 1986-1990.

National estimates of NSAID utilization were obtained from two databases available from IMS America. These data illustrate that in contrast to the rapid rise in NSAID prescriptions from 1973 (27.5 million) to 1983 (66.7 million), NSAID prescriptions have recently been remarkably stable. Over the same time period, a 46 fold increase in the use of gastro-protective and/or anti-ulcer drugs concomitantly with NSAID was demonstrated. It is hypothesized that the stabilization of NSAID prescription usage coupled with the dramatic increase in usage of concomitant anti-ulcer and gastro-protective agents has occurred due to physician awareness of the increased relative risk for adverse gastrointestinal events among NSAID users compared to non-users.