Warning over arthritis painkiller

Arthritis sufferers who take the painkiller ibuprofen may be increasing their risk of heart attacks and strokes, according to new research.

Scientists in New York compared the cardiovascular health of more than 18,000 people who were aged over 50 and suffered osteoarthritis.

Some were taking a high dose of lumiracoxib, a type of drug known as a cyclo-oxygenase (COX-2) inhibitor.

Others took either ibuprofen or naproxen, both of which are traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Researchers found that the drugs had no adverse effect on the cardio health of patients considered to be at low risk of heart problems.

Those at high risk of heart attacks, however, were put at even greater risk by ibuprofen as it appeared to interfere with the blood-thinning drug aspirin.

High-risk patients taking both aspirin and ibuprofen were around nine times as likely to have heart attacks and strokes over one year as those on lumiracoxib, according to the research, which is due to be published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

Among high-risk patients not taking aspirin, the rate of heart attacks or strokes was higher for those on the COX-2 inhibitor than it was for those on naproxen, but no higher than for those on ibuprofen.

Participants taking ibuprofen also developed congestive heart failure more often than those on the COX inhibitor.

The research, led by Dr Michael Farkouh, of the Mount Sinai Cardiovascular Institute, New York, concludes: "Owing to the over-the-counter availability of ibuprofen and naproxen, coupled with the scarcity of long-term NSAID clinical trials in high-risk patients, the findings of this study have immediate relevance to patients with arthritis at increased cardio-vascular risk."

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