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Side Effects of Pain Killers
June 1, 2007
Use caution with all pain medications,
reports the Harvard Heart Letter
BOSTON — Not long ago, choosing
a pain reliever meant finding one that eased your
pain without being too hard on the stomach. Now,
research suggests that some commonly used pain medications — not
just the now-banned Vioxx — can raise the risk
of having a heart attack or stroke. New step-by-step
recommendations from the American Heart Association
(AHA) can help you choose a pain reliever that's
good for both the heart and stomach, reports the
June 2007 issue of the Harvard Heart Letter.
The AHA suggests starting with aspirin or acetaminophen
(Tylenol) to quell muscle or joint pain. Aspirin is
good for the heart, and acetaminophen doesn’t
affect blood clotting. If they don't work, the next
step for most people would be a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drug (NSAID). Try naproxen (Aleve) first, then ibuprofen
(Advil). Next is diclofenac, but more caution is needed
with this drug (which is available only by prescription).
Celebrex, the only drug in the class known as COX-2
inhibitors that remains on the market, should be the
last resort for managing pain. In addition to the side
effect of increasing the risk of clots in the bloodstream,
COX-2 inhibitors can also reduce blood flow through
the kidneys and raise blood pressure. For short-term
pain in some people, a narcotic pain reliever such
as tramadol (Ultram), codeine, or fentanyl (Actiq,
Duragesic) may be an option.
The Harvard Heart Letter notes that you shouldn’t
be afraid to take aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve
for occasional aches and pains. But if you need a pain
reliever several times a week, pay closer attention
to your choices and talk with your doctor.
Also in this issue:
- Angioplasty vs. medical therapy
- Using CT scans to diagnose heart disease
- Spinal alignment and blood pressure
- More evidence against trans fats
- Can I stop taking my blood pressure medicine? And,
can I take nitroglycerine during exercise?
 Related
Information
Harvard Heart Letter is available
from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division
of the Harvard Medical School. You can subscribe at www.health.harvard.edu/heart or
by calling 1-877-649-9457 toll-free.
About Harvard Health Publications
Harvard Health
Publications publishes five monthly newsletters—Harvard
Health Letter, Harvard
Women's Health Watch, Harvard
Men's Health Watch, Harvard
Mental Health Letter, and Harvard
Heart Letter—as well as more than 50 special health
reports and books drawing on the expertise of the 8,000
faculty physicians at Harvard Medical School and its
world-famous affiliated hospitals. For more information
about Harvard Medical School publications, please visit
our Web site, www.health.harvard.edu.
Source: Harvard
Health Publications
Contact: hhpmedia@hms.harvard.edu
Web site: http://www.health.harvard.edu |
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