Diclofenac and cardiovascular safety
admin December 11th, 2007
The UK’s NPC have issued guidance on the use of NSAIDs, and specifically have singled out diclofenac prescribing for attention. Pulse Magazine reports:
GPs should review use of the most widely prescribed NSAID diclofenac and switch to ibuprofen or naproxen, says an NHS review into the safety profile of anti-inflammatory treatments.
Diclofenac accounts for 46% of all NSAID prescriptions in primary care.
But the National Prescribing Centre’s review of cardiovascular risks associated with traditional NSAIDs and cox-2 inhibitors has said this high level of prescribing should be ‘reconsidered’.
The report claims as many as 2,000 additional or premature cardiovascular events per year could be caused by diclofenac prescribing.
It goes on to say patients on diclofenac should be reviewed and switched to low-dose ibuprofen or naproxen if possible, to reduce their CV thrombotic risk.
Background to this story can be found at MEREC 30 and the NPC blog, and additional support materials are available from the NPC.
Currently the MHRA are conducting a consultation on an application for the reclassification of a low dose diclofenac preparation from prescription only medicine status to an over-the-counter medicine for sale in pharmacies. Comments should be submitted by 4 January 2008.