Show 1005: Balancing Benefit & Risk for Pain Relief

Millions of Americans rely on popular pain relievers such as celecoxib, diclofenac, ibuprofen, meloxicam, naproxen and other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). The fact that some of these medications are available without prescription in products such as Advil, Aleve or Motrin IB gives many of us the impression that they must be safe.

NSAIDs, Heart Attacks & Strokes:

This summer the FDA beefed up its warning that NSAID use can increase the chance of suffering a heart attack or a stroke. The risk begins to increase within the first few weeks of use and continues to rise the longer someone takes such a drug. Higher doses also appear to be riskier.

These medicines are a mainstay of treatment for such painful conditions as arthritis, bursitis, gout, plantar fasciitis and tendinitis, not to mention back pain. What alternatives do people have to alleviate their pain?

We discuss benefits and risks and answer your questions with pharmacologist and health journalist David Kroll.

This Week’s Guest:

David Kroll, PhD, is a pharmacologist and medical writer in the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina. He has taught at the University of Colorado, Duke University and North Carolina Central University. He now works on educating the public on matters pharmacological through his blogs.