Pain Relievers Tied to Immediate Heart Risks

[elleng]

(Sorry to change the subject of the day with such a downer.)

'The pain relievers known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or Nsaids, are known to carry heart risks. A new analysis found that those risks can arise within a week of starting the drugs.

Researchers did a systematic review of studies involving more than 446,000 people ages 40 to 79, of whom more than 61,000 had heart attacks.

In those who used Nsaids one to seven days, the risk of heart attack increased 24 percent for celecoxib (Celebrex), 48 percent for ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), 50 percent for diclofenac (Voltaren), and 53 percent for naproxen (Aleve). The increase for rofecoxib (Vioxx), which was taken off the market in 2004 because of its cardiovascular risks, was 58 percent.

The study, in BMJ, found that the risk increases with higher doses and duration of treatment, but there was no significant increase in risk after one month of taking the drugs.

The lead author, Michèle Bally, an epidemiologist at the University of Montreal Hospital, said that the absolute increase in risk is quite small, since the risk of heart attack for most people is small to begin with.'>>>

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/well/live/pain-relievers-tied-to-immediate-heart-risks.html?

[still_one]

1. That has been known for a while. In fact when the lawsuit on vioxx

came out against Merck for falsifying its data on vioxx, it was in 1999, it was made pretty clear that all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pose cardio vascular risk

[elleng]

2. 'A new analysis found

that those risks can arise within a week of starting the drugs.'

[Alice11111]

7. They relieve the pain, and sometimes cure the problem,

because they are anti inflammatories. So, its much better to take anti inflammatories than some other drugs that only mask the pain, but for reasons stated herein.

I've been through herniated disks before and they pumped me w anti-inflammatories (& epidurals) until the herniation was reduced. I avoided surgery. I was 25 years younger then. This time, I'm symptomatic. I have plenty of other stuff I could take for pain, but there isn't the anti inflammatory effect.
Now, to take my meds and off to bed, maybe just 1/2 tonight.

[still_one]

8. you do what you have to do

[democratisphere]

3. Aleve and Aspirin are my affordable healthcare plan.

Now what the hell am I going to do?

[elleng]

5. Dunno. Aspirin?

Have wondered myself, but I have no medical 'issues,' and only occasionally take a motrin or whatever.

[Warpy]

10. I think this is more for those of us who are on pain control long term

and we all know how pissy the DEA is about mild opiates.

[Alice11111]

4. Thx for posting this.

I take relefen, which is slightly better than Naprosyn, but I had noticed some serious symptoms, TIAs, so had cut back some. Wasn't sure which drug causing it. Getting epidurals for several Herniated disks and taming meds to try and settle down to avoid surgery. This makes it pretty clear. Perfect timing.
I had looked up all meds to check out, but this is on point.

[elleng]

6. Glad it's useful.

[still_one]

9. If you were having TIAs I certainly hope you physician is aware of that

you might need some diagnostics to see what is going on

[Alice11111]

11. I keep mentioning it to docs. I did some nuerogical after a bad one, a few years ago,

when my speech was very impaired for a couple of weeks or so. I was also really stressed then.Major car accident and couldn't work to meet deadlines. They switched me to tramadol, synthetic opiate, brain stem shots, but I stopped after a couple of years...max medical improvement. I occasionally take it, but maybe I ll take trammies, muscle relaxant , and much less of the NSAIDS. Best to just get better and off all of this junk, which I had done until a back thing flying to London. The plane was held on the tarmac for 5 hrs. and when I got up after being on the plane 18 hrs, backed cracked very loudly. W running subway stairs and such, when I needed to be off it, after a few days, I couldn't move my leg or walk. Better now, walking, after 3 epidurals and mega anti inflammatories, but still not ready for PT, they tell me, but take the meds. So, I'm cutting to half on the NSAIDS, after this article.

[still_one]

12. Well I hope you are able to get a handle on it. All the best to you

[Alice11111]

13. Thank you

[nitpicker]

14. Link to BBC

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-39858179

[elleng]

15. Thanks