An analysis of 20 years of data on the health of over 900 adults has found that long-term use of traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, cuts the risk for oral cancer in smokers by half, yet doubled users’ risks for cardiovascular death. The findings relate to patients who use the treatment for over six months and does not include aspirin.
The study by the Norwegian Radium Hospital and the National Hospital in Oslo supports the recent move by FDA to place a ‘black box’ warning on painkillers such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen, which warns users that long-term use may result in possible side-effects.
The FDA’s decision followed earlier moves in 2004 and 2005, when two COX-2 enzyme-specific NSAIDs were withdrawn from the market. First Vioxx was voluntarily recalled by Merck in September 2004, and then the FDA ordered the recall of Bextra earlier this spring.
“Our findings highlight how a commonly used drug can have a benefit from the standpoint of cancer prevention but can also have side effects – in this case, an increased risk for cardiovascular death,” said co-researcher Dr Andrew Dannenberg, professor of medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Director of Cancer Prevention at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell.