Pain Relief Warning

July 21, 2011

Many people rely on over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen and naproxen for pain relief. But now a new study warns these pain relievers and others that are similar can prove harmful for older adults with heart disease who overuse them.

A University of Florida study shows older adults with high blood pressure and coronary artery disease using pain relieving, nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs or “NSAIDs” are at higher risk for adverse cardiovascular events. Researchers say the chronic use of this group of pain relievers can double an older adult’s chances of dying of a heart attack when combined with pre-existing conditions. The study doesn’t specifically identify which pain relievers are to blame for the elevated cardiovascular risk in the study.

Dr. Anthony Bavry/UF cardiologist: “It is definitely a warning that people should pay attention to and from an academic standpoint, we need to further study these agents and try to better pinpoint out is there a particular agent, which is responsible for the harm. ”

The use of drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or celecoxib for about three years increased the cardiovascular risk in the study participants. Experts say aspirin is considered a nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drug, but it doesn’t have the same effects as the other pain relievers in the study.

Dr. Anthony Bavry/UF cardiologist: “Aspirin is technically an NSAID but it is in a different category and aspirin is unequivocally beneficial. So aspirin reduces the chances of having a heart attack and we routinely recommend aspirin for patients who are at risk for having a heart attack or who have had a heart attack.”

Researchers suggest speaking with your doctor before discontinuing the use of these types of pain relievers.