Which drug causes less GI irritation?

Which drug causes less GI irritation?

• A. Ibuprofen
• B. Aspirin
• C. Acetaminophen
• D. Diflunisal

Answer: (A)

GI irritation from analgesics is mostly about how they affect the stomach’s protective prostaglandins. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit COX enzymes and decrease the production of protective prostaglandins in the gastric mucosa, which raises the risk of gastritis, ulcers, and bleeding. Acetaminophen, on the other hand, has little peripheral COX inhibition and does not significantly disrupt gastric mucosal protection, so it tends to cause far less GI irritation than NSAIDs. Among these options, acetaminophen is the least irritating to the stomach. The other drugs listed are NSAIDs that can irritate the GI tract, with aspirin and diflunisal generally associated with more GI upset due to their mechanisms.

GI irritation from analgesics is mostly about how they affect the stomach’s protective prostaglandins. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit COX enzymes and decrease the production of protective prostaglandins in the gastric mucosa, which raises the risk of gastritis, ulcers, and bleeding. Acetaminophen, on the other hand, has little peripheral COX inhibition and does not significantly disrupt gastric mucosal protection, so it tends to cause far less GI irritation than NSAIDs. Among these options, acetaminophen is the least irritating to the stomach. The other drugs listed are NSAIDs that can irritate the GI tract, with aspirin and diflunisal generally associated with more GI upset due to their mechanisms.