Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Ibuprofen may ‘raise miscarriage risk’

Women who take even a small dose of painkillers such as ibuprofen early in their pregnancy more than double their risk of suffering a miscarriage,” reported The Guardian.
This news story covered a study that looked at women who had miscarried in early pregnancy and compared their use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen) with that of pregnant women who had not miscarried. The researchers found the risk of miscarriage to be 2.4 times greater in women taking any type of NSAID, compared with women not taking these drugs.
The findings of this large well-conducted study are likely to be reliable. NSAIDs are already known to carry potential risk in pregnancy, and the British National Formulary states that they should be avoided during pregnancy, unless the potential benefit is expected to outweigh the risks. Other potential risks that have been associated with NSAID use include delayed onset of labour and failed closure of the ductus arteriosus, which forms part of the foetal heart circulation.
Paracetamol is regarded as safe to take during pregnancy, when pain relief is needed. Pregnant women who are in need of regular pain relief, or who are finding paracetamol insufficient, are advised to consult their doctor, as the cause of pain and the most appropriate course of management require proper medical assessment.
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