OTCs and arthritis
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Recent NSAID publicity has affected the way 82% of orthopedic surgeons recommend pain relievers, according to the results of a telephone survey by Florida Hospital and the Joint Replacement Center released Aug. 10. The survey, which polled 259 specialists between June 16 and July 7, reports that 70% of orthopedic surgeons prescribe OTC medication for minor arthritis pain rather than Rx drugs. Of the group, 58% prefer Aleve, 35% recommend Advil and 7% suggest Tylenol as the first line of treatment against arthritis pain. Aleve ranked No. 1 for its "easy dosing" with "fewer pills" and long-lasting relief. The survey measured how surgeons are reacting to new NSAID data and reports that 90% of orthopedic surgeons have decreased prescribing COX-2 inhibitors in favor of OTCs...