Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS)

These are pain relief medications. Apart from antibiotics they are the second biggest group of drugs to cause or aggravate Leaky Gut Syndrome [1]. NSAIDs include over the counter drugs such as ibuprofen. NSAIDs are said to slow down and eventually block the enzyme that produces prostaglandins, which modulate inflammation. NSAIDs block the prostaglandins that stimulate tissue repair as well as the ones that cause pain. However whilst they may temporarily inhibit pain in some parts of the body they increase intestinal permeability, damaging the microvilli in the intestine, causing allergies and eventually making the pain in the other parts of the body worse as well. The damaged intestine cannot repair because the NSAIDs have blocked the production of the prostaglandins that heal tissues. Among patients who chronically use NSAIDs, research has suggested that 65% will develop intestinal inflammation [2] and up to 30% will develop gastroduodenal ulceration. [3]

Below are some of the common side effects associated with the use of NSAIDs as listed in RXLists of Indications and Side Effects: [4]

Abdominal pain, constipation, diarhhoea, edema, gastritis, gastrointestinal tract bleeding, gastrointestinal tract perforation, headache, heart failure, hyper tension, insomnia, musculoskeletal inflammation, peptic ulcer, rheumatoid arthritis, tinnitus, visual Impairment.

Steroids

Steroids such as cortisone and prednisone can also cause or exacerbate Leaky Gut Syndrome when used repeatedly. They constantly suppress the immune system, kill friendly bacteria, cause fungal infections to proliferate in the digestive tract and have a host of side effects, for example the side effects of steroids such as: Diprolene, Psorcon, Temovate and Ultravate used for psoriasis include: skin thinning, hair follicle infections, facial redness, worsening of diabetes mellitus and reduced endogenous steroid production. [5]

Cytotoxic Drugs

"Cyto" refers to any cell and "toxic" refers to poison so a cytotoxic drug poisons any cell. Cytotoxic drugs go back to the 1940s when it was observed at the Yale University School of Medicine that World War I gas Nitrogen Mustard had selectively damaged the bone marrow and lymphatic system of soldiers. It was believed that this property could have its uses for the treatment of malignancies so it was adapted as a method of dealing with cancer. From this alkylating agents, for instance: melphalan, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide were developed for cytotoxic therapy. One of their main properties is to connect with normal components of all cells, primarily DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and to destroy it. [6] Therefore cytotoxic drugs are going to be toxic to anything they comes across within the body including the digestive tract.

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[1] Koontz D, Hinze, J et al 1999, "Leaky Gut Syndrome, Origins, Effects and Therapies, The Medical Link Between Dysbiosis and Many Major Ailments' The Herbal Pharm 19, pp 8
[2] Bjarnason I, Macpherson AJ, 1994, "NSAIDs cause small intestinal inflammation in 65% of patients receiving the drugs long-term." Intestinal toxicity of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Pharmacology Therapy Apr-May;62(1-2) pp145-57
[3] Blower AL, 1996, "Endoscopic studies indicate that up to 30% of chronic NSAID users will develop gastroduodenal ulceration." Considerations for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy: safety Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology Supplement 105 pp13-24
[4] Gilbere G, 2004 I Was Poisoned By My Body "The Odyssey of a Doctor Who Reversed Fibromyalgia, Leaky Gut Syndrome and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity- Naturally." Lucky Press, pp 77
[5] Brown A, Hairfield M, Richards D, McMillin D, Mein, E, Nelson C, September 2004, "Medical Nutrition Therapy As A Potential Complementary Treatment For Psoriasis- Five Case Reports" Alternative Medicine Review
[6] Moss RW, 1995, Questioning Chemotherapy Equinox Press, p 173