Those who take high doses of painkillers, including ibuprofen, on a daily basis have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, a study by Oxford researchers found.
The drugs in question are non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and diclofenac. The researchers analyzed trials that recorded serious vascular events in patients taking NSAIDs and found that:
Patients taking COX-2s, another type of drug, had a 42 percent increased risk of heart attack or stroke, compared to placebo.
COX-2 inhibitors are sometimes used over NSAIDs because they do not carry the risks of gastric bleeding and ulcers. However, COX-2s carry added heart risks, and one such drug, Vioxx, was taken off the market because of concerns of heart attack risk.
This study raises concerns over the safety of NSAIDs as well, however researchers said the risks are small. About three in 1,000 people taking a COX-2 or an NSAID would have a heart attack each year.
Patients who take high doses of NSAIDs are typically suffering from conditions that cause severe chronic pain, such as osteoarthritis.
This is a powerful new piece of research as it shows that the selective COX-2 inhibitor drugs DOUBLE your risk of a heart attack. Vioxx was in this group but so were Celebrex, Mobic, and Bextra.
Both Vioxx and Bextra have been removed from the market.
Many people use NSAIDs to treat their aches and pains, and they assume that just because a drug is over the counter it is safe to use. This study clearly documents that if you use these drugs for chronic pain, especially at higher doses, you will most certainly increase your risk for heart disease.
So you can add this to the other well-documented problems with NSAIDs such as causing a 10-fold increase in the risk of heart failure. Amazingly, one in five people with heart failure get it as a result of taking NSAIDs.
Further, osteoporosis is a serious issue for many, so why would you want to take a drug that has been shown to damage your bones?
I don't know about you, but I really enjoy having two kidneys that work and allow me to avoid dialysis -- and that is clearly an increased risk for those who take NSAIDs. And please remember even Tylenol can harm your kidneys.