Common pharmaceutical painkillers linked to irregular heart rhythm
Wednesday 6th July 2011
Common painkillers offered by those in pharmacy jobs could increase the likelihood of patients suffering from irregular heart rhythm.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and next-generation COX-2 inhibitors have been associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, or flutter, in research carried out by scientists at the Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark.
Researchers found that risks were higher for new users of these drugs, with an increased likelihood of developing a flutter among users of COX-2 inhibitors compared to NSAIDS.
Commenting on the findings, published in the British Medical Journal, the authors noted: "Our study thus adds evidence that atrial fibrillation or flutter need to be added to the cardiovascular risks under consideration when prescribing NSAIDs."
The risk also appeared higher in older people and patients with chronic kidney disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
In 2009, research carried out at Loyola University suggested that taking birth control pills may increase the risk of suffering from a stroke.
Written by Megan Smith
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