An article published in the American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy assessed the adverse effects caused by analgesics commonly used by older adults with osteoarthritis. The authors performed a systematic review of the literature using online databases and the search terms, “analgesics,” “acetaminophen,” “non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs” (NSAIDs), “opioids,” “pharmacokinetics,” “pharmacodynamics,” and “adverse drug events.” The authors found that “NSAIDs should be limited to short-term use only, and for moderate-to-severe OA-related pain, opioids may be preferable in individuals without substance abuse or dependence issues.”
