El Espanol today features what may be quite an alarming article for some people on the subject of the popular painkiller, Voltaren.
Diclofenac, (the active principle of medications such as Voltaren), has been linked to an increase in cardiovascular problems and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Diclofenac……
Which is also marketed under brands such as Voltaren , Dolotren or Solaraze, is related to an increase of 50% in the risk of strokes or heart attacks in people who take it as opposed to those who use other analgesics. This is the result of a large-scale study with data from 6,300,000 patients published in July 2018 by the British Medical Journal .
This non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) had already been the subject of previous alarms in recent years. The UK had prohibited its sale without a prescription and the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) warned in 2012 of the greater cardiovascular risk observed in this drug compared with other alternatives for the treatment of muscular, joint or dental pains.
The study, carried out by the University Hospital of Aarhus (Denmark), was based on data from citizens who had taken prescribed pain medication for at least one year between 1996 and 2016.
Data taken from the Danish National Medical Registry indicated that consumers of Diclofenac had an increased risk of cardiovascular complications such as Arrhythmias – after 30 days of starting treatment, compared to those who had used Ibuprofen , Naproxen or Acetaminophen .
In addition, the researchers found that the risk increased with each year that the patient continued with the treatment, regardless of age and sex. On average, they suffered heart attacks more than those who took Ibuprofen or Naproxen, three times more than paracetamol users, and four times more than members of the control group who did not take any medication.
Finally, its use has been related to an increase in cases of gastrointestinal bleeding. “The time has come to recognize the potential risk posed by Diclofenac and reduce its use” – concludes the chief investigator, Morten Schmidt . “It should not be marketed without a prescription, and when prescribed, it should contain an appropriate notice in the box to warn of potential risks.”
Please also see the dangers of the painkiller Nolotil ( to Anglo Saxons and Scandinavian people) here
