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Painkiller diclofenac 'may raise heart attack risk'
September 30, 2011
People with concerns about the painkiller diclofenac have been advised to talk to their GP, after research found it may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke by 40 per cent.
A painkiller commonly taken by people with arthritis may significantly increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke, experts have warned.
The risks posed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac have been known for some time, but the latest study looked at several large studies to determine the relative impact of different types of the drugs.
Researchers from the Hull York Medical School and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Canada discovered that patients who took diclofenac were 40 per cent more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those who did not use the drug.
In contrast, another NSAID called naproxen was not associated with an increased risk.
Lead researcher Dr Patricia McGettigan, whose findings are published in the journal PLoS Medicine, said: "NSAIDs provide pain relief for millions of patients with chronic inflammatory disorders.
"In terms of relieving pain, these drugs work and for some people they are the only things that work. It is about weighing up the pain relief against the risk."
A spokeswoman for the British Heart Foundation said that patients who take diclofenac should not stop using it.
Senior cardiac nurse Doireann Maddock advised: "You should always speak to your doctor first because the benefits may well outweigh the risks for you."
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