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Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat pain, fever and inflammation.
It is one of the most popular medicines. It is available over the counter and is generally considered safe. However, recent studies have discovered something very shocking about this drug!
Ibuprofen
Stormy discussions about restricting the sale of ibuprofen began after the risk of sudden cardiac arrest was discovered. According to the latest research carried out in Denmark, it is as much as 31%. For the drug Diclofenac of the NSPZL group, which is available over the counter in some countries, the risk increases by up to 50%. Prof Gunnar Gislason from the University of Copenhagen, who led the research, is calling for stricter controls on the sale of ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory drugs of the NSAID group.
The professor’s statement
He said: “The fact that these drugs are sold over the counter creates the impression that they must also be safe. The results of the studies are a cruel reminder that these drugs are not harmless. Diclofenac and ibuprofen, two commonly used drugs, increase the risk of cardiac arrest.”
This was not the first study to demonstrate the adverse effects of these drugs on the human body. The research and results were already published last year in the British Medical Journal. During earlier studies, doctors also recorded abnormal heart rhythm — which can lead to heart failure — and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke with regular use.
Gislason warned people with heart problems to stop taking these drugs immediately. “Drugs of the NSAID group should be used with great caution. They should be avoided by patients suffering from cardiovascular disease or at risk of developing it.” he said.
And he added: “I don’t think these drugs should be sold over the counter in supermarkets or at petrol stations, where there is no professional advice on how to use them.”
Gislason suggested that they should only be used after consultation with a doctor or pharmacist.
“These drugs should be available only in pharmacies and should be used only in limited quantities and at low doses,” he said, adding: “The prevailing societal belief that these drugs are safe is absolutely wrong.”
If you can buy these drugs in stores, you automatically assume: “They must be safe.”
“But our study confirms that these drugs increase the risk of cardiac arrest and consultation with a doctor or pharmacist is absolutely necessary.”
Study of cardiac arrests
Danish researchers studied the outcomes of almost 29,000 patients who had a cardiac arrest between 2001 and 2010. They found that the use of any NSAID drug increased the likelihood of cardiac arrest by up to 31%. Gislason said that a person should not take more than 1200mg of ibuprofen per day. Share this article with friends and family.
