For those who suffer chronic pain, medications classified as COX-2 inhibitor NSAIDs can help relieve and manage that pain. But a new study shows that relief can come with a significant risk. Danish researchers recently wrapped a study of 100,043 patients undergoing treatment for chronic pain over eight years and concluded that long-term use of certain pain killers can increase a patient’s risk of stroke-related death.
Study results showed that participants who used COX-2 NSAIDs chronically were 19 percent more likely to die from a stroke related to a clot, compared to those who did not use the drugs. They also experienced a 20-percent higher risk of death from a stroke within just 30 days of use. Of the pain medications available here in the United States, celecoxib (marketed as Celebrex) was associated with a 12-percent increase in deaths from stroke within the first 30 days of use.
Any medication comes with a trade-off between benefits and risks. If you’re seeking relief from chronic pain and are at risk of stroke or have experienced a prior stroke, be sure to talk with your doctor about all potential risks associated with pain medications. And, if you have suffered a stroke or other cardiovascular issue that you believe may have been associated with use of NSAIDs or other pain killers, call 407-999-8995 to speak with a dangerous drug attorney with Orlando’s Todd E. Copeland & Associates.
