Ibuprofen and AF

Just read in Daily Mail dutch researchers have said theres a link between taking nsaids such as ibuprofen and af.They said there is up to an 84% more chance of getting af if you take Nsaids.I was put on ibuprofen after having an emeroid removed in 2011 and was on them for about 8 months on and off and then was diagnosed with af 4 months later,just wondered if any one else had taken them regularly.I had never taken Ibuprofen before this

[BobD Volunteer]

I saw the headlines today but didn't;tread the small print. Since ibuprofen is a no no if you take warfarin I suspect that few people here take them at all although historically they may have.. I await more details in due course.

Bob

[Finvola]

Hi

That research is very interesting and is relevant for an awful lot of unsuspecting people over 55 taking Diclofenec and Ibuprofen. Unfortunately it is too late for those of us with AF

I took high dose Ibuprofen in December 2013 and within a month I was diagnosed with PAF. I now wonder if that was the 'cause'.

For those who can understand the medical explanation, the BMJ Online has the full document but it was all over my head!

[lingooz]

Hi I am newly diagnosed to ( isn't it scary ) I am 63 in June . I have been on naproxen (a. 500mg prescription anti inflammatory for years ( but only take when and if ) for back and neck pain , only heard about risks to heart. About yr ago , so also have been thinking of the connection . I must admit finding hard to come to terms with AF , feel very down ,even though mine is intermittent I feel tired if I do to much and light headed , told doc at hospital appointment and he said 1 in 10 react that way to the carisoprodol that I was on (beta blocker ) so gave me a different one that you take just if you go into Af. I unfortunately still feel unwell in bouts ( like yesterday after big pile of ironing ) so don't know if this is normal way to feel on occasions , but is nowhere near as bad as when on bisoprosol , do you feel this tiredness and conscious of your heartbeat ? Especially at quite times and laying down , takes me over hour to get to sleep now !! It's good to have people to share these thoughts with isn't it ? Just wish there was a proper chat room , hope this finds you feeling ok and look forward to your reply

[CDreamer in reply to lingooz]

Hi, in a word yes, it does make you feel that tired even after just doing the ironing and yes beta blockers make you breathless and yes you are always conscious of your heartbeat - until you have an a successful ablation - that was the first thing I noticed!

[lingooz in reply to CDreamer]

Never heard of ablation ?

[Dodie117 in reply to lingooz]

If you have AF you need to know about ablation. It is a surgical procedure where the EP inserts wires into the heart via groin and tries to block the rogue impulses by creating scar tissue. When it works it is the nearest thing to a cure. ( it can come back) Look it up online or on this site. Loads of info available. I had it done 4 months ago and free of AF for now. Stay well.

[lingooz in reply to Dodie117]

Probably not mentioned to me as I have proximal AF which is intermittent

[Dodie117 in reply to lingooz]

Mine was the same. My eps opinion was that this option should be available at the early stage as it is more successful before the Af and meds have done much damage. I think if you read up on it you will find that a lot of Eps are now in agreement about this. I am not saying you should have one but at least have the information. Lots of luck

[Hidden in reply to lingooz]

Hi lingooz,thanks for your reply.I was diagnosed with af last March and since have had a pacemaker fit and an ablation,but am know feeling a lot better and hoping to come off all drugs.Yes the betas do make you feel tiered and a bit out of breath but hopefully you,ll soon be sorted out.I just put this post on wondering how many of us was on ibuprofen and such before we where diagnosed with af.Good luck ,argzxoni

[Hidden]

I read the article too Lingooz and it did say naproxen was the best of the NSAIDs, though what that means is anyone's guess... However my doctor warned me from the start of the AF not to take ibuprofen, and as Bob says it's something that's always been a no-no with warfarin - maybe the link with AF needs to be known more widely! I hope they reach some definite conclusions soon and really spread the word if it's an issue.

[lingooz in reply to Hidden]

Not on warfarin justcasprin

[CDreamer]

Haven't read the article yet, thanks for the post, Ibufrogen has always been a no, no but also quite a lot of cold remedies so beware, I always check with the pharmacist before taking anything.

[Hidden]

G'day argzxoni61,

Yeah I read this in - The Times - never thought of it, but still don't think it was the original cause of my AF right in the beginning. For me it was more likely to be electro sensitivity as I carried my mobile phone in my shirt pocket (over my heart ) for about 2 and half years while at the same time experiencing massive palpitations. However, I had my right knee cartilage removed in 2000 in Sydney and used Voltaren (the Aussie version of Ibuprofen) Gel for pain relief before and after surgery and for years later including Ibuprofen when I returned to Britain. When I was dignosed by A & E as having AF and put on Warfarin I was told not to take anything in the Ibuprofen family of drugs. I haven't ! I was told the only pain killer I could use was coCodomol 30/500 (prescription strength).

Aussie John

[lingooz in reply to Hidden]

My GP knows I am naproxen and has never mentioned my coming off it ( although I don't take warfarin just aspirin ,my choice )

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply AussieJohn,I never thought of it too,but it,s becoming quite surprising how many of us took these Nsaids before we where diagnosed.G,day to you to

[meadfoot]

I was diagnosed with AF as a hospital in patient 5 years ago this month. The cardiac consultant asked what I used for pain relief generally, I said paracetamol but ibuprofen if pain is really bad. He immediately said never use ibuprofen again now you have been diagnosed with AF. I have not touched it since.

Other cardiac consultants have asked me the same question and also said don't touch it - ever. I stick with paracetamol now.

[GranJan]

Weell !! I have been on NSAIDS for arthritis for about 35 years on a very gradually increasing dose, also started AF 20 -ish years ago, perhaps there is a connection, although nothing was said then. I am now on Warfarin, Verapamil and Digoxin as well as Celebrex, (an NSAID) and Ranitidine and wondering if it is too late to change anything? How worrying it all is, was this connection not known when I was put on Warfarin 18 months ago?

[BobD Volunteer]

It will be interesting to see how this research pans out as so far we have not see any "causes" of AF. There are plenty of things that can bring it on but there has always been the need for pre-disposition. Endurance athletes and fast jet pilots tend to have it more than other groups probably due to enlargement of the atria but again in a random fashion which suggests that a genetic pre-disposition is required. I think we must all understand that this is all very new science and not yet twenty years since the first RF ablations were performed. Thanks to Trudie and her team at AFA there is much more public awareness of AF both in government and the medical profession but still a long way to go.

Bob

[CDreamer]

I certainly used to take Ibubrufen for migraine and neck & back pain. Interestingly you cannot buy them over the counter in Spain, only obtainable on prescription.