Doctors have advised people not to panic over fears about the safety of one of Ireland's most popular painkillers which has been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks.
A study published in the British Medical Journal found that regular use of ibuprofen, of which Nurofen and Brufen are among the best-known brands, could increase the chance of an attack by up to 24 per cent.
Ibuprofen is commonly used for the treatment of headaches, back pain and minor sports injuries. Many of Ireland's 500,000 arthritis sufferers use it, along with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSIADs), on an almost daily basis.
However, Ronan Kavanagh, secretary of the Irish Society for Rheumatology, and a consultant rheumatologist, said people should not panic, or stop using the drug without first speaking to a doctor. "Looking at the figures, the risk of a heart attack is very low," he said.
"There would be a much higher risk of attack from cigarette smoking or obesity than from taking anti-inflammatories."
Dr Martin Daly, chairman of the Irish Medical Organisation's GP committee, said the research backed up long-held concerns about potential side effects of NSIADs. People with kidney or heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure were most at risk of experiencing such effects.
There were concerns also about an increasing number of young people who were self-treating with ibuprofen for minor sports injuries. "While these drugs are legal there is a worry that young people tend to rely on anti-inflammatories to bring them back from injury. This is particularly a concern in the context of young sports people getting heart attacks," said Dr Daly.
He advised people who were taking NSIADs on a long-term basis or in high doses to contact their GP, who would help them to make an informed choice. He added that the research suggested there were pitfalls or increased risks in allowing a broader range of drugs to be bought over the counter without prescription.
The Irish Medicines Board said it would carefully examine the study "in the context of all other evidence on this issue."
It pointed out that a number of other studies had not shown an increased risk of myocardial infarction with ibuprofen, adding that the well-known side-effects of NSIADs were outlined in product information leaflets.
"Consumers/patients who have concerns should seek the advice of their general practitioner, but in the meantime should not immediately cease the use of current medication in the absence of medical advice," the board said. The study, based on data from 9,218 coronary patients in England, Scotland and Wales, suggested that NSIADs could increase the chance of a heart attack by as much as 55 per cent.
The researchers at Nottingham University said further investigation of these drugs - which include ibuprofen, diclofenac and rofecoxib (Vioxx) - was needed, but patients should not stop taking them.
