Summary
The medicines regulator has advised that the painkiller diclofenac should not be used by people with heart problems. A European review found a small increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
“The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said the drug should not be used by people with serious underlying heart conditions. People who have suffered heart failure, heart disease or a stroke should stop using it completely”.
Read more: BBC News. Heart risk warning over painkiller diclofenac.
Reference
Heart risk warning over painkiller diclofenac. London: BBC News, June 29th 2013.
This relates to:
Reference
Diclofenac: new contraindications and warnings after a Europe-wide review of cardiovascular safety. [Online]: Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), June 2013.
Reference
Coxib and Traditional NSAID Trialists’ (CNT) Collaboration. Vascular and upper gastrointestinal effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: meta-analyses of individual participant data from randomised trials. Lancet. Epub: May 30th 2013.
[A brief reference to this item features in Dementia and Elderly Care: the Latest Evidence Newsletter (RWNHST), Volume 3 Issue 9, August 2013].