There has been documented concern about the cardiovascular safety of some pain relievers and arthritis treatments (1) in the past two years.
Now, at the 70th annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), a new data that looked into platelet inhibition of over-the-counter (OTC) doses of naproxen sodium has been presented.
The said findings revealed additional evidence surrounding the OTC Naproxen Sodium’s cardiovascular safety.
Platelets are an element in the blood that aid blood clotting.(2) Aggregating, or accumulating, platelets can cause clotting in the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack or ischemic stroke. Previous research has found the prescription strength dose of naproxen (550mg bid)(3) to have positive antiplatelet effects, but this study represents the first time that data have been collected at the OTC dose of 220mg bid and tid.
According to study author Michael Schiff, M.D., of the Denver Arthritis Clinic: "As healthcare professionals who treat arthritis, we're facing a dilemma in how to best treat our patients in need of pain relief -- many of whom have chosen to forego treatment because of concerns about medication safety. This new research gives us increased confidence in the cardiovascular profile of naproxen sodium, such as that found in Aleve, as an OTC pain reliever."
For more than 30 years in the United States, Naproxen Sodium has been a prescription product. In June 1994, ALEVE® (naproxen sodium) joined the OTC market and since then has been used by millions of Americans as a safe and effective pain reliever for more than a decade.
Find more details from the press release.
(1) Salpeter M, Gregor P, Meta-analysis: Cardiovascular events associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. American Journal of Medicine. 2006; 119: 552-559.
(2) American Heart Association Cardiac Glossary
(3) Capone M, Tacconelli S, Clinical pharmacology of platelet, monocyte and vascular cyclooxygenase inhibition by naproxen and low-dose aspirin in healthy subjects. Circulation. 2004; 109:1468-1471.
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