Nice, so OtC pain medication causes heart attacks and strokes, but MJ still remains schedule 1 – really?

http://www.piercepioneer.com/fda-advises-wider-warnings-on-most-nsaid-medicines/43076

On Thursday, the US Food and Drug Administration chose to strengthen their warning on labels for the more widely used painkillers like naproxen and ibuprofen. The new warnings now caution that these products can increase risk for heart attack and stroke.

“Everyone may be at risk, even people without an underlying risk for cardiovascular disease,” explains Dr. Judy Racoosin, who is the deputy director of the F.D.A.’s Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Addiction Products.

Furthermore, FDA spokesman Eric Pahon notes, “They used to say they might cause risk of heart attack or stroke. Now we are saying they do cause increased risk of heart attack and stroke.”

In addition, FDA director of the division of nonprescription drug products, Dr. Karen Mahoney, says, “Be careful not to take more than one product that contains an NSAID at a time,” in the agency’s announcement.
Pills
She warns that people should always check the list of active ingredients in any drug facts label to be sure whether or not a product contains an NSAID.

These products are available over the counter; the most common types of these drugs are: ibuprofen (ie Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) but NSAID medications can also show up in other medicines too, particularly multi-symptom cold treatments.

It is important to note that aspirin is considered an NSAID too, but the FDA did not find any reason to include aspirin to the new warning labels.

“These medicines have a long history of safety and efficacy when used as directed,” advises the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, an agency which represents nonprescription drug makers. The group did, however, say that it would cooperate with the FDA’s request for the label updates.