WARNING: Some Tablets Can Increase the Risk of Blood Clots, Stroke, or Heart Attack
This type of headline needs context. Certain medicines can increase cardiovascular or clotting risk, but the risk varies greatly by drug, dose, duration, and the person’s health.
One important group is NSAID painkillers, including ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, and celecoxib. Non-aspirin NSAIDs can increase the risk of serious cardiovascular events such as heart attack and ischemic stroke. The risk can occur relatively early in treatment and tends to increase with higher doses and longer use.
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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Medicines worth discussing with your doctor
NSAID painkillers: ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, and similar medicines can increase cardiovascular risk in some people.
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Estrogen-containing birth-control pills: rarely, these can increase the risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke, particularly when other risk factors are present.
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Aspirin: this is different from NSAIDs in an important way. Aspirin can prevent clot-related heart attacks and strokes in certain people, but it can also cause serious bleeding. It should not be started for cardiovascular prevention without medical advice.
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration
🚨 Don’t stop a prescribed medicine suddenly
A medication being associated with a potential risk doesn’t mean it’s unsafe or unnecessary. Doctors prescribe these medicines because their benefits can outweigh their risks for particular patients.
If you develop chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden weakness or numbness on one side, or sudden difficulty speaking, seek emergency medical care immediately.
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Bottom line: There isn’t one mysterious group of “tablets that cause blood clots.” Several different medications have different cardiovascular risks. If you tell me the name of the tablet you’re referring to, I can explain its specific clot, stroke, and heart-attack risks.
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