Just how safe is ibuprofen? European researchers are on the case
The 6 000th patient has just been recruited in a European study into the safety of some of the world's most widely used medicines. The 'Standard Care versus Celecoxib Outcome Trial' (SCOT), which is being carried out by researchers from Denmark, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, is comparing the safety of commonly prescribed, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and diclofenac. The study involves the participation of 6 000 patients and 685 general practitioner (GP) practices from across the 3 countries. The researchers, led by Professor Chris Hawkey from the University of Nottingham, hope their findings will benefit millions of arthritis sufferers around the world; they are keen to continue recruiting medical practices and patients to the study. Professor Hawkey comments: 'This study is designed to answer an important scientific question, which has the potential to improve the care of the thousands of arthritis sufferers. It is the first large-scale safety study of its kind, and really will make a difference to future prescribing within primary care.' NSAIDS are commonly prescribed to relieve joint pains associated with arthritis. They are very effective and millions of prescriptions are issued annually, not to mention the numbers sold over the counter in chemists and shops. However NSAIDs do have side effects, including irritation of the digestive system and effects on blood pressure and the heart. The study will focus on finding out how safe a new group of NSAIDs, called Cox-2 inhibitors, are. These were recently developed and have been proved to be less harsh on the digestive system than some of the existing NSAIDs. The SCOT study will find out whether one of these new drugs, Celecoxib (Celebrex (R)), has similar or dissimilar effects on the cardiovascular system as the older drugs. The study will test the hypothesis that Celecoxib is no different from the older NSAIDs. The overall aim of the study is to help arthritis patients and doctors make the best choice among the available treatments for joint pains. Professor Tom MacDonald, chief investigator on the study from the coordinating institution the University of Dundee, comments: 'This information will be of great value to everyone who needs to take these drugs on a regular basis, which is millions of people around the world. The findings will allow doctors and people with arthritis to make the best choice, not just for their joint pains but also for their general health.' Arthritis is a common condition that causes swelling of the joints and bones, and symptoms include pain, stiffness, restricted movements of the joints, inflammation and swelling, and warmth and redness of the skin over the joint. The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Professor MacDonald described the recruitment of the 6 000th patient as a 'major achievement' and said it marked a 'milestone in the success of the project'. He also hailed the 'world class scientists and research facilities that Scotland, England, Denmark and the Netherlands have to offer' and the 'collaborative effort of all involved'. The researchers are still looking for patients to take part in the study. People aged 60 or over who regularly take prescribed NSAID-type painkillers for arthritis may be eligible to take part. Patients who have had angina, a heart attack or a stroke are not eligible for participation.For more information, please visit:SCOT study:http://www.scottrial.co.uk
Countries
Denmark, Netherlands, United Kingdom