Medicating Ourselves to Death. The Case for Something New.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 11:54PMI saw a news post the other day reporting that acetaminophen (Tylenol) is associated with an increase in risk for certain types of blood cancers. This is on top of news earlier this year when the FDA mandated lower doses of acetaminophen because of concerns about risk for liver injury.[i]
The recent study on the topic of blood cancers showed that “high use of acetaminophen was associated with an almost two-fold increased risk of incident hematologic malignancies other than CLL/SLL.”[ii]
The relative increase in risk for these cancers is low with use of acetaminophen when taken at recommended doses. The FDA still considers Tylenol to be a safe medication. This type of news, though, raises questions about how we should be using prescription medications.
A similar recent article outlines some of the risks associated with NSAID use (medications like ibuprofen, motrin and other familiar friends). [iii]
- NSAIDs (nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs) like Advil, Motrin and Voltaren taken by healthy people can increase their risk of death from heart-related issues
- Use of diclofenac (or Voltaren) was associated with a 91 percent higher risk of death from all cardiovascular diseases
- Use of Ibuprofen increased risk for stroke 29% versus those not taking NSAIDs
- More than 100,000 Americans are hospitalized each year and between 15,000 and 20,000 Americans die each year from ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding linked to NSAID use
So what does that leave as options for managing pain? It is a good question. Exercise. Supplements. And potentially more tempered and less unthinking chronic use of some of these medications.
[i] http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/ucm239871.htm
[ii] J Clin Oncol. 2011 May 9.
[iii] USNews Health. “Common Common Pain Relievers Raise Heart Risk for Healthy Folks
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