A study carried out in Europe says patients with history of heart problems are at a high risk of suffering from heart attack or stroke. According to the study published in the journal PLOS Medicine, patients using diclofenac, a popular over-the-counter painkiller that is widely available in Nigeria, were 40 per cent more at risk of developing heart failure than those not using it.
In a swift response, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) advised patients with underlying heart conditions such as heart
failure, heart disease or circulatory problems, or patients who have
previously suffered heart attacks or strokes, should no longer use
diclofenac.
Commenting on the development, Dr Sarah Branch, deputy director of the MHRA's Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines Division, said although this has been a known risk for some time, the agency has decided to update the advice.
"Whilst this is a known risk and warnings have been included in
patient and healthcare information for some time, this advice is now
being updated. For many patients diclofenac will continue to
provide safe and effective pain relief but it is no longer suitable for
certain at-risk groups," she said.
The drug is currently sold in pharmacies across Nigeria.
Three years ago, the drug was adjudged the most commonly prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
(NSAID) in Britain, with about 6 million prescriptions written. Patients could also buy it over the counter.
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