27/09/06 - Health section
Heart attacks prompt alert over ibuprofen
Common painkillers such as ibuprofen are at the centre of a major health alert today.
The drugs are under investigation by European regulators after being linked with an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke.
Millions of people regularly take such drugs, technically known as non-selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories and including ibuprofen, commonly marketed as Nurofen.
Experts say only those who are prescribed high doses for conditions such as arthritis are at risk.
A recent version of the drug, Vioxx, was taken off the market in 2004 after it was linked with hundreds of US heart attacks.
New research suggesting there could be a similar risk in older versions has prompted the review of the whole class of drugs.
The European Medicines Agency will decide next month whether doctors need new guidance over long-term use of the drugs.
Meanwhile it recommends patients use the smallest dose as briefly as possible.
The new data, culled from 140,000 patients, suggested some of the drugs doubled heart attack risk.
Questions were also raised over the safety of taking high doses of ibuprofen for long periods.
It was suggested that for every 1,000 people taking the drugs, three people a year would suffer a related heart attack.
Patients who are already taking aspirin to prevent heart attacks and stroke are being told not to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as well unless absolutely necessary.
An Arthritis Research Campaign spokeswoman said: "What we need to know is whether the benefit of these drugs outweigh the risks."
Under investigation are diclofenac, etodolac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, meloxicam, nabumetone, naproxen, nimesulide and piroxicam.
Find this story at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=407298&in_page_id=1774
©2006 Associated New Media
29 September 2006: New Zawahiri tape released:
Bush, the Catholic Pope, and Darfur: The Crusader's Wars
The video, 17 minutes and 51 seconds in length, features Dr. Ayman Zawahiri in an office-like setting delivery the address.
The video includes English subtitles.
We will provide an update shortly.
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