Press Release: PRAC recommends the same cardiovascular precautions for diclofenac as for selective COX-2 inhibitors

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Series Details EMA/353084/2013 (14.06.13)
Publication Date 14/06/2013
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The European Medicines Agency’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC), in June 2013, concluded that the effects of the painkiller diclofenac on the heart and circulation when given systemically (by means such as capsules, tablets or injections) are similar to those of selective COX-2 inhibitors, another group of painkillers. The PRAC concluded that the benefits of diclofenac still outweigh the risks but recommended that the precautions already in place to minimise the risks of arterial thromboembolic events (blood clots in the arteries) with selective COX-2 inhibitors should also be applied to diclofenac.

Diclofenac is a widely used medicine for relieving pain and inflammation, particularly in painful conditions such as arthritis. It belongs to a group of medicines called ‘non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs’ (NSAIDs).

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.emea.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/news_and_events/news/2013/06/news_detail_001816.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058004d5c1
Related Links
EMA: Press Release: EMA/353084/2013 (14.06.13) http://www.emea.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Press_release/2013/06/WC500144451.pdf
EMA: Press Release: EMA/380947/2013 (28.06.13) http://www.emea.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/news_and_events/news/2013/06/news_detail_001830.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058004d5c1

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