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Thursday, May 28, 2009

Safety of non inflammatory drugs in patients with heart disease

For some time now, there has been concern regarding the safety of non inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) in patient with heart disease. Some of the medications seemed to lead to increased incidence of heart disease (Vioxx and Celebrex) and some NSAIDS seem to interfere with aspirin (ibuprofen).

Now, reasearchers are reporting in the May 2009 issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, that naproxen (Alleve) is clearly safer than the other NSAIDS with fewer heart attacks, strokes and cardiac related deaths.

For now, I encourage all my patients to try and see if they can control their pain with acetaminophen (Tylenol). If this does not control their pain, I recommend Alleve for pain control.

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