Nimesulide: A double-edged sword must be banned

Dear Editor, My purpose in writing this letter is to draw your attention to a very susceptible situation of possible adverse reactions like hepatotoxicity caused by Nimesulide. It is being prescribed as an over-the-counter drug and is available even online for home delivery without any prescripti...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Muhammad Moaz Bin Khalid, Muhammad Nouman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pakistan Medical Association 2023-11-01
Series:Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
Online Access:https://www.ojs.jpma.org.pk/index.php/public_html/article/view/9593
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Summary:Dear Editor, My purpose in writing this letter is to draw your attention to a very susceptible situation of possible adverse reactions like hepatotoxicity caused by Nimesulide. It is being prescribed as an over-the-counter drug and is available even online for home delivery without any prescription in Pakistan. Nimesulide is an atypical selective COX-2 inhibitor that is similar in anti-inflammatory effects as compared to other classical NSAIDs and selective COX-2 (celecoxib & rofecoxib) inhibitors but different as it has a protective effect on NSAID-induced ulcers as compared to other more selective COX-2 inhibitors, which do prevent but do not protect NSAID induced ulcers. But, does this only benefit of being gastroprotective justify its use as a relatively common drug with or without a prescription? ---Continue
ISSN:0030-9982