Question

a pharmacy technician should identify that which of the following over - the - counter (otc) medications is most likely to increase a patients risk for gastrointestinal (gi) bleeding?
acetaminophen (tylenol)
naproxen (aleve)
ibuprofen (motrin)
diphenhydramine (benadryl)

Explanation:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is mainly associated with liver - related side - effects, not GI bleeding. Ibuprofen (Advil) is a non - steroidal anti - inflammatory drug (NSAID). NSAIDs inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which are involved in the production of prostaglandins that protect the gastric mucosa. By inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis, NSAIDs can increase the risk of gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding. Naproxen (Aleve) is also an NSAID and has a similar mechanism of increasing GI bleeding risk. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is an antihistamine and is not associated with an increased risk of GI bleeding. Among the options, ibuprofen is an over - the - counter NSAID that can increase the risk of GI bleeding.

Answer:

Ibuprofen (Advil)