People who have had a heart attack are supposed to take anti-clotting drugs for at least a year to help prevent a recurrence. But a new study from Denmark shows that during that year, these folks should stay away from popular pain relievers such as diclofenac, ibuprofen or naproxen.
The investigators reviewed the records of more than 60,000 heart attack patients. One third of them filled a prescription for a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID.
Over the course of 3.5 years of follow-up, 29 percent of these people died. Those who had taken an NSAID were about twice as likely to have a hemorrhage and 40 percent more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
In an accompanying commentary, doctors are warned to let heart patients know they should stay away from NSAID pain relievers.
Patients in pain may wonder what options they have. We discuss some of them in our Guide to Alternatives for Arthritis.
