Calls for ibuprofen sale restrictions after study finds cardiac arrest links

There have been fresh calls for restrictions on the sale of the painkiller ibuprofen after another study found it heightens the risk of cardiac arrest.

Taking the over-the-counter drug was associated with a 31% increased risk, researchers in Denmark found.

Other medicines from the same group of painkillers, known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), presented an even higher risk, according to the findings published on Wednesday in the European Heart Journal.

Diclofenac, available over the counter in the UK until 2015 and still taken on prescription, raised the risk by 50%.

Prof Gunnar Gislason of the University of Copenhagen, who led the study, called for tighter controls on the sale of ibuprofen and other NSAIDs. He said: “Allowing these drugs to be purchased without a prescription, and without any advice or restrictions, sends a message to the public that they must be safe.

“The findings are a stark reminder that NSAIDs are not harmless. Diclofenac and ibuprofen, both commonly used drugs, were associated with significantly increased risk of cardiac arrest.”

The findings are the latest to raise alarm about the use of NSAIDs. Last September a study in British Medical Journal found they were linked to an increased risk of heart failure. Previous studies have linked the drugs to abnormal heart rhythm – which can cause heart failure – and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke if taken regularly.

Gislason urged people with heart problems to avoid ibuprofen and other NSAIDs. “NSAIDs should be used with caution and for a valid indication. They should probably be avoided in patients with cardiovascular disease or many cardiovascular risk factors,” he said.

“I don’t think these drugs should be sold in supermarkets or petrol stations where there is no professional advice on how to use them.”

Gislason suggested they should only be taken after consulting a doctor. “Over-the-counter NSAIDs should only be available at pharmacies, in limited quantities and in low doses,” he said.

He added: “The current message being sent to the public about NSAIDs is wrong. If you can buy these drugs in a convenience store then you probably think: ‘They must be safe for me.’

“Our study adds to the evidence about the adverse cardiovascular effects of NSAIDs and confirms that they should be taken seriously and used only after consulting a healthcare professional.”

The Danish investigators studied data on almost 29,000 patients who suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest recorded in Denmark between 2001 and 2010. They found that use of any NSAID raised the likelihood of cardiac arrest by 31%.

The researchers speculated that the results could be explained by the effect of the drugs on the cardiovascular system, as they influence platelet aggregation and the formation of blood clots. They may also cause arteries to constrict, increase fluid retention and raise blood pressure.

Gislason said people should not take more than 1,200mg of ibuprofen in one day.