The European Medicines Agency’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) has concluded that the benefits of diclofenac still outweigh the risks but recommended that the precautions already in place to minimise the risks of arterial thromboembolic events with selective COX-2 inhibitors should also be applied to diclofenac.
The MHRA has issued a statement following on from this recommendation, which advises patients with underlying heart conditions who are currently taking diclofenac to speak to their GP or pharmacist at their next routine visit, to consider alternative pain relief. Updated information for patients and healthcare professionals will be issued shortly.