PEOPLE on high doses of painkillers will have to pit the benefits against the risks, with some drugs being found to slightly increase the likelihood of heart trouble.
Higher-dose use of some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as diclofenac and ibuprofen, ups the chance of having a heart attack or stroke, a new study has found.
The research, carried out by the University of Oxford MRC Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit, was based on data from more than 353,000 patients and focused on prolonged, high-dose use.
NSAIDs are among the most commonly-used drugs in the world and are widely used to manage pain, especially conditions such as arthritis.
The research found for every 1000 people with a moderate risk of heart disease given one year of treatment with daily high-dose diclofenac (150mg) or ibuprofen (2400mg), about three would experience an avoidable heart attack, of which one would be fatal.
The study also found all NSAIDs doubled risk of heart failure and doubled, tripled or quadrupled risk of serious upper gastrointestinal complications such as bleeding ulcers.
Lead author Professor Colin Baigent said the risks were relative to a person's existing chance of heart disease.
He also urged people using high doses not to worry.
"We're talking about really low risks. The extra risk of a heart attack is very small," he said.
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