An expanded profile of cutaneous reactions to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Reports to a specialty-based system for spontaneous reporting of adverse reactions to drugs
R. S. Stern and M. Bigby
The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are widely used in the United
States and are a frequent cause of cutaneous reactions. Since December
1980, dermatologists have reported 135 of these drug reactions to a
specialty-based Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting System. Reactions to
piroxicam were most frequently reported; the majority of reactions to this
drug were vesiculobullous and occurred most often in sun-exposed areas.
Other reactions to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs not previously
recognized include serum sickness, exfoliative erythroderma, and
photosensitivity associated with sulindac; toxic epidermal necrolysis was
reported with tolmetin, zomepirac sodium, and piroxicam. Fixed drug
eruptions were noted with ibuprofen and naproxen, and photosensitivity was
reported with sulindac and indomethacin. These findings illustrate the
usefulness of a specialty-based system for spontaneous reporting of new and
serious adverse reactions to drugs.
