A widely prescribed painkiller, diclofenac, has been linked to a 50 percent increased risk of heart attack or stroke even at low doses, alarming new research suggests. The study also found heightened risks of heart failure and irregular heartbeat across all ages in both men and women. Previously available over the counter, diclofenac was reclassified in the UK as prescription-only due to serious side effect concerns.
Commonly used for headaches, back pain, arthritis, and flu symptoms, the drug was subject to this change in January 2015 by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, which cited a "small but increased" risk of heart issues. The extensive research involving over six million people is considered the largest of its kind, associating the drug with "major cardiovascular events". Cardiologist Dr Morten Schmidt from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark highlighted the cardiovascular dangers of diclofenac compared to non-use, paracetamol, and other traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
In his BMJ article, Dr Schmidt advocates for prescription-only access to diclofenac, as is the case in the UK, and stresses the need for clear warnings on packaging. His team's findings indicate that users of diclofenac, often sold under the brand name Voltarol, face a higher likelihood of experiencing heart-related health issues. Patients using diclofenac saw a staggering 50 percent increase in rates of health complications after just 30 days compared to those.
