Ask the Pharmacist: Are PPIs required with NSAIDs?

Question:

Why are so many claimants receiving a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) along with a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)? Is this required?

Answer:
NSAIDs are valuable agents in the treatment of arthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders, and as pain relievers for a wide variety of conditions. Unfortunately, their use can be limited by their association with injury to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (stomach, intestine, etc.), including the development of ulcers. The addition of a GI tract protectant, such as a PPI, reduces the chance that patients will develop an ulcer. While a protectant is recommended by the American College of Gastroenterology for most patients, it is not required for all patients. In addition, there are other available treatments that may be more cost effective depending on the level of risk a certain patient has for developing a GI ulcer. Read more...

Please send your questions to AskThePharmacist@cvty.com

Kim DuBrueler, B.A., PharmD., RPh, is a Clinical Pharmacist within Coventry's pharmacy benefit management program, First Script. She joined Coventry in early 2011, bringing with her experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, as well as retail pharmacy. She is involved in keeping up on industry wide research and trends in the pharmacy sector, authoring pharmacy bulletins and client newsletters, white papers, presentations and educational webinars. Kim has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Colgate University, a doctorate in pharmacy from Temple University, and is currently a member of the ACOEM Opioids Panel tasked with developing updated opioid utilization guidelines.