Reach for the Pain Relievers that Don’t Carry Death Risks
By: Bob Livingston
For headaches and minor aches and pains, doctors often recommend taking non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are also known by their over-the-counter names as ibuprofen (common brand names Advil, Midol, NeoProfen, Caldolor, Motrin and Ibu) and naproxen (common brand names Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan and Naprosyn). But do those doctors tell you that taking them puts you at greater risk of heart attack and strokes?
Not likely. But the Food and Drug Administration last month issued a strong warning that they do, based on the agency’s comprehensive review of new safety information.
The FDA admits it knew of the increased risk since at least 2005, but just now issued the warning. According to a release on the FDA’s website, NSAID labels will have to reflect the following:
- The risk of heart attack or stroke can occur as early as the first weeks of using an NSAID. The risk may increase with longer use of the NSAID.
- The risk appears greater at higher doses.
- It was previously thought that all NSAIDs may have a similar risk. Newer information makes it less clear that the risk for heart attack or stroke is similar for all NSAIDs; however, this newer information is not sufficient for us to determine that the risk of any particular NSAID is definitely higher or lower than that of any other particular NSAID.
- NSAIDs can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in patients with or without heart disease or risk factors for heart disease. A large number of studies support this finding, with varying estimates of how much the risk is increased, depending on the drugs and the doses studied.
- In general, patients with heart disease or risk factors for it have a greater likelihood of heart attack or stroke following NSAID use than patients without these risk factors because they have a higher risk at baseline.
- Patients treated with NSAIDs following a first heart attack were more likely to die in the first year after the heart attack compared to patients who were not treated with NSAIDs after their first heart attack.
- There is an increased risk of heart failure with NSAID use.
The FDA warns that patients and healthcare professionals should remain alert for heart-related side effects the entire time NSAIDs are being taken. Why didn’t the FDA release this information in 2005? The reason is profits.
The FDA is little more than a public relations/marketing agency for Big Pharma. Its “research” into the effects of drugs primarily consists in taking the word of the drugs’ manufacturers. It has been implicated in pay-for-play scandals and intimidates and prosecutes whistleblowers who try to uncover FDA scams and schemes.
Global Research pointed out:
(According to FDA drug reviewer Ronald Kavanagh) “While I was at FDA, drug reviewers were clearly told not to question drug companies and that our job was to approve drugs. We were prevented, except in rare instances, from presenting findings at advisory committees. In 2007, formal policies were instituted so that speaking in any way that could reflect poorly on the agency could result in termination. If we asked questions that could delay or prevent a drug’s approval — which of course was our job as drug reviewers — management would reprimand us, reassign us, hold secret meetings about us, and worse. Obviously in such an environment, people will self-censor.” (Former FDA Reviewer Speaks Out About Intimidation, Retaliation and Marginalizing of Safety, Martha Rosenberg, Truthout)
The federal government, through the FDA, has now unleashed the pharmaceuticals upon the American people resulting in massive and unbelievable profits. The American people don’t have a dog’s chance in hell against this monstrous and deceptive fraud. What a scam! What a cash cow!
Patent “medicines” are one of the greatest deceptions of our time. They are products of advertising — very sophisticated and expensive advertising.
The federal government and its alphabet soup agencies care not a whit about protecting the public. Their aim is to protect their crony corporations. And, in fact, most government agencies are revolving-door employment agencies between lobbying groups and the corporations they are tasked with overseeing.
For natural pain relief, look to herbs and supplements like capsaicin, ginger, feverfew, turmeric and devil’s claw. Discuss their use with a holistic healthcare professional.