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Researchers have identified a widely used pain killer to be linked to an increased risk of heart attack and ischemic stroke
People who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (other than aspirin) such as diclofenac may have a higher risk of having a heart attack or a stroke than people who do not take these medications. These events may happen without warning and may cause death.
Diclofenac tablets and capsules can cause also ulcer in your stomach or gut if you take them for a long time or in big doses. There’s also a small risk of heart failure or kidney failure if you take very big doses (150mg a day) for a long time.
Potential influencing factors were taken into consideration, and the researchers found that starting diclofenac during the study period (1996-2016) resulted in an increased rate of major adverse cardiovascular events within 30 days compared with starting other traditional NSAIDs (ibuprofen or naproxen) or starting paracetamol.
The researchers concluded that diclofenac should not be available over the counter, but should have to be prescribed by a doctor, with warning labels on the packaging to ensure patients are aware of the risk before they begin to take the drug.
