Heart Disease :: Painkillers, ibuprofen can increase the risk of heart attacks

A class of painkillers which includes ibuprofen can increase the risk of heart attacks if taken over long periods. The Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) has written to every doctor in the UK warning them that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – which are routinely taken by arthritis and back pain sufferers – “may be associated with a small risk of heart attack or stroke” when used for long-term treatment.

GPs and hospital doctors should prescribe “the lowest effective dose for the shortest time necessary”, the CHM warned. And manufacturers will have to update their information on side-effects to include “vascular events” – heart attacks and strokes – as potential risks.


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