OTC Pain Relievers Linked to High Blood Pressure in Women

Women who take high daily doses of painkillers, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, run a significantly higher risk of hypertension (high blood pressure), according to two recent studies published in Hypertension online, as reported by MedPage Today on 16 August. The investigation was led by John P. Forman, MD, clinical fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston.

Two age groups were studied: One study (the Nurses Health Study I) examined older women, aged 51-77 years, while the other study (the Nurses Health Study II) included younger women, aged 34-53 years. None of the study participants had hypertension – defined as blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg – at baseline.

Study Results

In the younger group, women taking over 500 mg of acetaminophen daily had twice the risk of hypertension as women who took no acetaminophen. In the older group, women who took over 500 mg of acetaminophen daily had a 93% higher risk of hypertension as women taking no acetaminophen.

For women taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), including non-prescription drugs such as ibuprofen and prescription drugs such as celecoxib (Celebrex), the pattern was similar. Older women taking NSAIDs in dosages of over 400 mg daily had a 78% higher risk of hypertension, compared with women not taking NSAIDs; for younger women, this risk was 60% higher.

At higher doses, the results differed more between age groups: at daily NSAID doses above 800 mg, the older women had a 2.2-fold higher risk for hypertension, compared with women not taking NSAIDs, whereas for younger women taking above 800 mg of NSAIDs daily, the risk increase was similar to the 60% increase observed at 400 mg daily doses.

"These results confirm and expand on our previous reports that frequency of acetaminophen and NSAID use increases the risk for incident hypertension in women," the investigators reported, according to MedPage Today. "Because acetaminophen and NSAIDs are commonly used, they may contribute to the high prevalence of hypertension in the United States."

In contrast to NSAIDs and acetaminophen, aspirin intake had no effects on the hypertension risk among older women, although it slightly increased the risk among younger women.

What the Results Mean

These findings by Dr. Forman and colleagues support a growing body of evidence that links some painkillers (but not aspirin) to cardiovascular risks. According to MedPage Today, a June 2005 report in the British Medical Journal found that people who use NSAIDs have an increased myocardial infarction risk, compared with non-users; a second study in that issue reported a link between NSAID usage and increased risk of premature death among congestive heart failure patients.

In comparison, less is known about the cardiovascular effects of acetaminophen, according to Nieca Goldberg, MD, chief of women’s cardiac care at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

"This is a very interesting finding," Dr. Goldberg reported to MedPage Today. "The statistic held true throughout the analysis. We do know the effects NSAIDs can have on the blood vessels, but acetaminophen doesn’t work on that mechanism, so that was interesting. There’s a big assumption on the part of patients that if they can buy it over-the-counter, then it’s safe."

Sources:
Over-the-Counter Pain Pills Linked to Hypertension Risk for Women, MedPage Today, 16 August, 2005.
Non-Narcotic Analgesic Dose and Risk of Incident Hypertension in US Women, Forman et al., Hypertension, Volume 46, page 500, August 2005.

Latest Pharma Industry News...

Pharma Industry News Archive

More News Resources

Daily MedNews
Pharma Industry News
New Drug Applications
New Drug Approvals
Clinical Trial Results
Generic Drug Approvals
Monthly Update Archive