Painkillers and Pregnancy Problems: The Surprising Connection

In earlier newsletters I discussed how arthritis medications called NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) are likely responsible for over 30,000 preventable deaths a year. Now, new research shows that NSAIDs also more than double the risk of miscarriages when they are taken during pregnancy.

In a study of more than 50,000 pregnant women, researchers from Canada and France compared women who miscarried with women who didn't — and found those with miscarriages were 2.4 times more likely to have taken NSAIDs just prior to or during pregnancy. And many types of NSAID were implicated: diclofenac, naproxen, celecobix, ibuprofen, and refecoxib.

"The use of nonaspirin NSAIDs during early pregnancy is associated with statistically significant risk of having a spontaneous abortion," wrote the researchers. "Nonaspirin NSAIDs should be used with caution during pregnancy," they advised.

For more information, see Anti-inflammatory drugs taken in early pregnancy more than double risk of miscarriage.

Reference

"Use of nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during pregnancy and the risk of spontaneous abortion," Nakhai-Pour HR et al, Canadian Medical Association Journal. Volume:183. Issue:15. Pages: 1713-1720. DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.110454 Published: OCT 18 2011