Patients with chronic pain should be aware of the dangers associated with consuming a constant stream of painkillers. These patients are at risk of drug addiction and car accidents due to drowsiness. And new research shows that a common painkiller could significantly raise the possibility of heart attacks in certain patients.
BBC News reports that the medicine diclofenac may increase the risk for heart attack or stroke in specific populations. Millions of people are prescribed this medication to manage headaches, arthritis, or neck and back pain. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) released a statement saying that patients with serious heart conditions should not take this drug.
People with high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure or those who smoke should speak with a pharmacist or doctor before using this medication. Those who have already experienced a heart attack or stroke should never use diclofenac.
Instead of taking prescribed drugs, those with chronic pain should consider alternative methods of treatment, such as taking yoga or Pilates classes and working with a physical therapist.
The New York Times reported in one study that light exercise or chiropractic care for patients with neck pain is important. Researchers followed three groups of patients – those who saw a chiropractor, those who were instructed to perform a simple exercise regime by a physical therapist, and a group that took acetaminophen and other painkillers. The non-medicated groups saw a more significant reduction in pain over a 12-week period.
“The people in the medication group kept on using a higher amount of medication more frequently throughout the follow-up period, up to a year later,” Dr. Gert Bronfort, the author of the study and professor at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Minnesota, told the news source. “If you’re taking medication over a long time, then we’re running into more systemic side effects like gastrointestinal problems.”
Instead of using medications to dull any discomfort, it is a good idea to follow more alternative therapies when managing chronic pain.