Over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen are commonly used to treat mild headaches and fever and most of the time, they are effective and are virtually harmless. However, a new report from the Food and Drug Administration states otherwise.
The FDA announced on Thursday that it would strengthen warnings on the use of the aforementioned drugs, which belonged to a class of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), either as OTC or as prescription.
The warning from the agency said that in the first few weeks of taking an NSAID, a person's risk of developing heart attack and stroke would increase.
Furthermore, the agency wants the public to know that the risks are not limited to people who are prone to heart diseases.
Everyone could be at risk , event those who don't have "an underlying risk for cardiovascular disease," said Judy Racoosin, deputy director of FDA's Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Addiction Products, according to the agency's statement.
The risks that come with NSAIDs are already known. FDA had already placed information regarding the risks of many OTC and prescription NSAIDs.
But in the months to come, the agency will require an update of labels on prescription NSAIDs, citing specific information on the risks of heart attack and stroke. The agency will also require OTC NSAIDs to have updated information about the risk, which should appear in the "Drug Facts" labels.
Since many consumers find NSAIDs to be effective in treating pain, fever and inflammation, they should "carefully read the Drug Facts label" that appears in all over-the-counter drugs, as advised by the FDA.
Karen Mahoney, deputy director of the agency's Division of Nonprescription Drug Products, urges consumers not to take several products that contain NSAID at one time.
Mahoney also added that consumers should go for the lowest effective dose and take them at the shortest duration possible.
