A cardiologist has sounded the alarm over common medications due to worries about their potential side-effects. Aurelio Rojas Sánchez, who practices in Malaga, Spain, pinpointed three specific drugs that could potentially lead to ‘heart problems’, and advised against frequent use.
Ibuprofen, a drug often praised for its effectiveness in easing various discomforts and pains, was the first on his list. Dr Sánchez highlighted its links with heart attacks, strokes and other serious health complications.
“These are the medicines that, if you take frequently, can cause heart problems,” he wrote in a December alert on Instagram (@doctorrojass). “Ibuprofen – although in reality also naproxen, dexketroprofen and any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are often given to you at the pharmacy without a prescription, can be harmful if you use them frequently[…] In the long term, or at high doses, as they increase the risk of problems such as hypertension, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure or stroke.
“Some antibiotics are [also] notorious for their toxicity to the heart, and are used in common infections such as throat or bronchial infections, especially azithromycin and fluoroquinolones, which can cause dangerous cardiac arrhythmias due to QT prolongation.”
Dr Sánchez isn’t the only one concerned either. In 2016, research across four European countries, discovered that use of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was linked with a ‘19% increase of risk of hospital admission for heart failure’. Such a condition takes place when the heart struggles to pump blood throughout the body, potentially increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and other complications.
The study revealed that taking higher doses of these medications amplified the risk too. However, it’s vital to stress that individual risk factors, such as age, play a significant role. Reflecting on the research, Professor Peter Weissberg, former Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, previously explained: “Overall the coverage failed to stress that the results found in a group of elderly patients may not apply to younger patients.
“It has been known for some years now that such drugs need to be used with caution in patients with, or at high risk of, heart disease. This applies mostly to those who take them on a daily basis rather than only occasionally.
“Since heart and joint problems often coexist, particularly in the elderly, this study serves as a reminder to doctors to consider carefully how they prescribe NSAIDs, and to patients that they should only take the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. They should discuss their treatment with their GP if they have any concerns.”
Aside from ibuprofen and antibiotics, Dr Sánchez also mentioned that omeprazole, a medication commonly used to combat heartburn and indigestion, can also lead to heart-related problems. This is corroborated by other healthcare experts and the NHS, which cautions against its overuse.
“If you take omeprazole for more than three months, the levels of magnesium in your blood may fall,” the NHS explains. “Low magnesium can make you feel tired, confused, dizzy and cause muscle twitches, shakiness and an irregular heartbeat. If you get any of these symptoms, tell your doctor.”
In a separate note about antibiotics, the health body adds: “When it comes to antibiotics, take your doctor’s advice on whether you need them or not. Antibiotic resistance is a big problem – taking antibiotics when you do not need them can mean they will not work for you in the future.”