Ibuprofen Danger Consumer Warning
The next time you take ibuprofen or other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to relieve a headache or arthritis pain, you may be increasing your risk for stroke and heart attack, because treatment with ibuprofen might limit the cardioprotective effects of aspirin. One study reports that use of NSAIDs raise stroke and heart attack risk by as much as fourfold.The recent study was conducted to assess whether patients with known cardiovascular disease who take low-dose aspirin and ibuprofen have increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. The medical professionals that conducted the study observed over 7,000 patients who were discharged after first admission for cardiovascular disease between April 1989, and April 1997, and who were prescribed low-dose aspirin (less than 325 mg/day) and survived for at least one month.
Compared with those who used aspirin alone, patients taking aspirin plus ibuprofen had an increased risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 1·93, 95% CI 1·30-2·87, p=0·0011) and cardiovascular mortality (1·73, 1·05-2·84, p=0·0305). Our finding lends support to the hypothesis that ibuprofen may interact with the cardioprotective effects of aspirin, at least in patients with established cardiovascular disease.
Common NSAIDs good for pain but not the heart
The findings of anther new study conducted by a British Medical Journal are the result of an analysis of 31 randomized controlled trials that involved more than 115,000 patients. Compared with placebo, use of ibuprofen was associated with an increase in stroke risk of 3 times or more. Ibuprofen is available both over-the-counter (e.g., Advil, Motrin, PediaCare, others) and by prescription. General instructions for ibuprofen use include the warning to not take the drug for more than 10 days without a doctor’s directions.
The study also reported that the newer generation NSAIDs rofecoxib (Vioxx) and lumiracoxib (Prexige), known as COX-2 inhibitors, were associated with a twofold risk of heart attack, and the COX-2 inhibitor etoricoxib (Arcoxia) and traditional NSAID diclofenac (Rufenal) were associated with a fourfold risk of cardiovascular death.
This study was not the first time cardiovascular risks have been associated with the use of COX-2 inhibitors and traditional NSAIDs. Rofecoxib was withdrawn from the market in 2004 after it was found to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, as was another COX-2 inhibitor, valdecoxib (Bextra), which was withdrawn in 2005 for the same reason.
A study that evaluated more than 1 million people and published in Circulation, Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes reported that rofecoxib and diclofenac were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death, and that ibuprofen showed a trend for increased risk of stroke. On a positive note, a recent study found that ibuprofen use may reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Given that many patients are taking ibuprofen and other NSAIDS for pain and also using medications for cardiovascular disease such as stroke and heart disease, the authors of the new study emphasize that "cardiovascular risk needs to be taken into account when prescribing any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug."
Read more about this story here.
SOURCES:
Fosbol EL et al. Circulation, Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes 2010 Jul; 3(4): 395-405
Trelle S et al. British Medical Journal 2011; 342:c7086
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673603125093
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Viles and Beckman, LLC is dedicated in helping those patients who have experienced a stroke because of taking Ibuprofen. If you or a loved one believe to have had a stroke because of taking Ibuprofen, contact Viles and Beckman, LLC at 1-800-64-VILES (1-800-648-4537) or fill out the form on the right side of this page to request your free case review - after our attorneys review your case, we will contact you to discuss your next steps.
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