Many pain medications are not suitable for long term use because of the potentially damaging side-effects. You might recall that Vioxx® was taken off the market in September 2004 after the release of a study showing that the drug doubled the risk of heart attack and stroke in long-term users.

Now a co-author, a senior cardiologist of a Danish study is recommending that one of Australia’s best known pain killers, Voltaren be taken off the market as well. Even Ibuprofen, commonly sold as Nurofen and Advil, was linked to a 30 per cent increased risk of stroke when more than 1200 milligrams were taken. See the article in the Sydney Morning Herald here.

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