NSAIDS may up heart attack risk

NOTTINGHAM, England, Jun 11, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Drugs known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, or NSAIDs, prescribed for pain and inflammation may raise a risk for heart attack, says a British study.

The study, published in the British Medical Journal, found a 24 percent increased risk for a first heart attack among people taking ibuprofen -- sold as Advil and Motrin -- and a 55 percent elevated risk among those taking the prescription NSAID diclofenac, or Voltaren, reported Newsday Saturday.

Naproxen, an NSAID sold as Aleve, showed a slight increase in heart-attack risk, but the data was not clinically significant, according to the researchers at the University of Nottingham.

Swiss medical experts critiqued the study and said it contained flaws. They advised the results should be interpreted with caution.

"The quality of the data on cardiovascular risk factors and other potential confounders was poor," the authors said.

Officials at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the drugs are generally safe when used according to instructions. The FDA advised consumers to read information about the medications on its Web site, which indicates that preliminary studies on some NSAIDS show there may be some safety concerns.