Painkiller linked to heart problems

One of the most commonly used painkillers may put patients at an increased risk of heart attack, doctors warned yesterday.

Ibuprofen, the anti-inflammatory drug found in millions of medicine cabinets, increased the risk by almost a quarter, according to a study in Britain.

Researchers advised patients using the drug not to stop taking it, but called for further investigation.

The drug is sold without a prescription, and its best-known brand is Nurofen. It is an alternative to paracetamol and aspirin used for aches and pains caused by inflammation.

New Zealand drugs regulator Medsafe said last night the Medicines Adverse Reactions Committee would review the British ibuprofen study at its September meeting.

"In the interim, patients need not stop taking these medications," said Medsafe specialist Dr Stewart Jessamine. But they should minimise their use of them, as with all drugs.

The study, published in the British Medical Journal, found that those prescribed these types of painkillers in the three months before their heart attack were at higher risk than those who did not take the drugs. For ibuprofen, the risk increased by 24 per cent.

The researchers point out that the absolute increase in risk is small, translating to one extra patient suffering a heart attack for every 1005 taking the drug.

In the biggest study of its kind, researchers from the University of Nottingham surveyed 9218 patients across Britain, aged from 25 to 100, who had a heart attack for the first time between 2000 and 2004.

The study was carried out before another painkiller, Vioxx, was withdrawn because of health fears, and the authors say the findings are all the more important as many patients who were previously taking Vioxx will have switched to other drugs including ibuprofen.

Medsafe said questions were raised about ibuprofen this year, but the data indicating increased risk was not compelling.

- Independent, Herald staff