Use of Ibuprofen Could Increase Risk of Chronic Pain, Study Shows.
The study was conducted by researchers in the UK and reported on May 11.
It suggests that short-term use of both ibuprofen and steroids to relieve inflammation may actually increase a person's risk for chronic pain.
The study points out that inflammation is the body's way of healing from an injury that may cause pain.
Blocking this process in the body with over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen could lead to future significant health issues.
In the UK, the most common instance of chronic pain is lower-back pain.
Treatments for the malady cost millions every year.
Authors of the study pointed out that its focus wasn't specifically ibuprofen.
While ibuprofen was not studied explicitly in either the human or the mouse data (in the mouse we used diclofenac), , Dr. Jeffrey Mogil, McGill University, via 'The Guardian'.
... as ibuprofen is so common in the UK, it is highly likely that a large percentage of those in the UK Biobank who reported taking ‘NSAIDs’ (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) were in fact taking ibuprofen, Dr. Jeffrey Mogil, McGill University, via 'The Guardian'.
Researchers also stated that the results of a single study do not equate to new guidelines or recommendations for pain management.
It would most definitely be premature to make any recommendations regarding people’s medication until we have results of a prospectively designed clinical trial, Dr. Franziska Denk, King’s College London, via 'The Guardian'.
However, there seems to be consensus that further research would be useful.
The theory is that inflammation may have a protective effect in the long-term, and that overly reducing inflammation may be harmful.
, Professor Blair Smith, University of Dundee via 'The Guardian'.
However, it is important to note that this is just one study, and more research is needed to confirm and investigate this further, Professor Blair Smith, University of Dundee via 'The Guardian'
