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Voltaren Causes Heart Attacks & Strokes
Australia’s medicine watchdog is reviewing the safety of the common anti-inflammatory drug Voltaren amid fears it could pose the same risk of heart attack as the disgraced drug Vioxx. The Therapeutic Goods Administration said yesterday it was carrying out an extensive review of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including the need for new warnings about diclofenac, an older NSAID sold over the counter under brand names, including Voltaren. Research by the University of Newcastle, being published in the Journal of the American Medical Association today, has found it can be harmful, even at commonly used doses. An analysis of 17 studies on the safety of NSAIDs found diclofenac increased the risk of cardiovascular events by 40 per cent.
While the drug is most commonly sold as Voltaren in the tablet form, it is also known under many other names, either prescription-only or over-the-counter medications, including Clonac, Diclohexal and Fenac. Researcher David Henry said the findings raised serious questions about the safety of diclofenac and provided grounds for a review of its regulatory status. He said he would advise people with a history of heart problems against using it.
“Among the older drugs, diclofenac stands out as having a risk that is equivalent to Vioxx, which was withdrawn in 2004,” he said. “One reason for this is that the drug is consumed in high doses and because we’ve had this drug for a long time the doses have crept up,” he said.
The arthritis drug Vioxx was withdrawn from the market after concerns it doubled the risk of heart attack. Professor Henry said it would be difficult to voluntarily pull the drug off the market because there were many manufacturers.
Story from The Age.
Dr. Hooper’s comment:
Make no mistake – All drugs cause side effects!
If you are using an anti-inflammatory drug, of any type, you need to consider the very real dangers and complications they cause. Stomach upsets, stomach ulcers, stomach perforation, bleeding from the bowel, damage to the kidneys, damage to the liver as well as heart attacks and strokes are all very real and very common side effects of drug anti-inflammatories. Voltaren is just one of many drugs that can have deadly side effects. They may offer quick relief, however as seen in this article, they can also prove fatal. Especially if if taken by someone with a history of heart problems. However, there is a better way. Chiropractic, Natural Medicine and Acupuncture can help relieve pain and inflammation without risking the lives of those undergoing treatment.
Rather than using a drug to reduce inflammation why not reduce your intake of sugar and grains to reduce inflammation naturally. Read Eating to Reduce Inflammation eBook for more information.
Maybe articles like these will help Australians make another step towards choosing a SAFE treatment rather than prescription drugs.
