Mefenamic Acid for Seniors: Safety, Dosage & Guidelines
A clear guide on using mefenamic acid in older adults, covering safety issues, proper dosing, contraindications, drug interactions and practical tips for clinicians and caregivers.
NSAIDs for Seniors: Safe Use, Risks, and Better Alternatives
When you’re over 65, your body handles medications differently—and NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used for pain and swelling. Also known as anti-inflammatories, they’re among the most common drugs taken by older adults for arthritis, back pain, or muscle soreness. But what helps one person might hurt another. The same pills that reduce knee pain in a 40-year-old can raise the risk of stomach bleeding, kidney damage, or heart problems in someone over 70. Many seniors don’t realize how dangerous these drugs can be when taken long-term, especially when mixed with other meds like blood thinners or blood pressure pills.
Take diclofenac, a popular NSAID found in gels like Emulgel and pills like Voltaren. It’s effective for localized pain, but even topical versions can enter the bloodstream and affect the kidneys or heart in older users. Then there’s ibuprofen and naproxen—over-the-counter staples that sound harmless until you learn they increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke in seniors. The FDA warns that these risks start as early as age 60 and grow with every pill taken over weeks or months. What’s worse? Many seniors take NSAIDs daily without telling their doctor, thinking it’s just a pain reliever, not a medicine with serious side effects.
And it’s not just the pills. NSAIDs often get mixed with other drugs that make things worse. For example, combining them with omeprazole, a stomach acid reducer often prescribed to protect against NSAID-related ulcers can still leave you vulnerable. Studies show even proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole don’t fully prevent bleeding in older adults on long-term NSAIDs. And if you’re on blood thinners like clopidogrel, NSAIDs can turn a minor bruise into a dangerous bleed. The body changes with age—liver and kidney function slow down, stomach lining thins, and fluid balance shifts. That means drugs stick around longer and hit harder.
So what’s the alternative? For many seniors, topical gels like Emulgel offer targeted relief with fewer side effects. Physical therapy, heat wraps, or even low-impact exercise like swimming can reduce pain without drugs. For chronic joint pain, some find relief with acetaminophen (though it’s not an NSAID and has its own limits), or newer options like diacerein, which works slower but safer for cartilage. If you’re using NSAIDs daily, talk to your doctor about cutting back. Ask about checking your kidney function, blood pressure, and stomach health. You don’t have to live with pain—but you also don’t have to risk your health for a quick fix.
Below, you’ll find real, practical guides from people who’ve walked this path—whether it’s comparing topical NSAIDs like diclofenac gel to other pain relievers, understanding how common drugs interact with pain meds, or finding safer ways to manage arthritis without relying on pills that could hurt more than help.
