Letters
Mefenamic acid is more dangerous than most
BMJ 1995; 311 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.311.7001.392 (Published 05 August 1995) Cite this as: BMJ 1995;311:392
- David J Grant,
- A M Macconnachie
- Consultant physician in geriatric medicine Liberton Hospital, Edinburgh EH13 0EQ
- Principal pharmacist Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY
EDITOR,--We are particularly concerned about the continued use of mefenamic acid in elderly patients.1 Despite its apparent popularity this drug can provoke frank colitis in patients with no known predisposing factors2 and is neurotoxic in overdose. Reports of acute renal failure due to mefenamic acid, mainly affecting elderly people, have appeared steadily over the past 15 years.3 4 Most patients presented with abdominal pain and diarrhoea and were not oliguric; not allcases were …
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