November 7, 2014 — Neurology has published a study adding growing evidence that painkillers in the COX-2 inhibitor class may increase a patients risk of death in the 30 days following a stroke.
The conclusions of the study were based on data from over 100,000 people in Denmark who were hospitalized after their first stroke between 2004-2012.
The researchers found a 19% increased risk of death within 30 days of a stroke for patients currently on a COX-2 inhibitor compared to non-users. There was a 42% increased risk of death after a stroke for new users of a COX-2 inhibitor, and 53% for patients on older COX-2 inhibitors like Lodine (etodolac).
Cardiovascular concerns about drugs in the COX-2 inhibitor class were raised in 2004, when Merck & Co. pulled Vioxx off the market. Three years later, the drug-maker paid nearly $5 billion to settle 27,000 lawsuits from people who blamed Vioxx on a heart attack, stroke, or wrongful death of a loved one.
The FDA asked Pfizer to stop selling another COX-2 inhibitor called Bextra (valdexocib) in 2005. However, Pfizer continues to market Celebrex (celecoxib), a painkiller in the COX-2 selective NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) class, with a Black Box Warning about cardiovascular side effects.
Other NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) were not associated with higher rates of death after a stroke.
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