High-dose painkiller heart risk: small but significant

Conclusion This large review adds to, and expands on, the current evidence on the risks of vascular disease and gastrointestinal complications for different NSAIDs. It largely concentrates on trials of high doses of NSAIDs that can only be prescribed by a doctor. It is unclear from this study whether there is any risk from taking lower doses available over the counter. While most experts advise that low-dose NSAIDs, taken occasionally, are safe for most people, an accompanying editorial points out that there are still “large gaps” in evidence on the risks with lower doses of NSAIDs. While the risk to individuals is small, it is important to remember that high doses of NSAIDs are used by millions of people worldwide to manage chronic pain, for example from arthritis.  Even a one in 1,000 risk of NSAID-associated death would amount to 1,000 deaths in a population of 1 million. Such risks are worth bearing in mind when deciding on treatment with your doctor. This means that any evidence that improves the safety of prescribing of this kind of medication is vital. The evidence presented in this study is likely to be of particular interest to organisations that advise doctors on which drugs to prescribe, such as NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence). As an accompanying editorial argues, “identification of safe and effective strategies for chronic pain is sorely needed. In the meantime, long-term use of high dose NSAIDs should be reserved for those who ...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medication Heart/lungs Source Type: news