Drugs For Headache: Infertility?
A report at the European League Against Rheumatism Congress 2015 is raising concerns about the use of certain anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The study clearly showed the link between the medications and infertility.
In this case, the connection was quite clear. While taking the medication (participants took it over a period of 10 days), the patients were much likely to ovulate – much less likely.
The drugs in the study were diclofenac, etoricoxib and naproxen. Of the control subjects (those taking none of the above), 100% ovulated. Of those taking etoricoxib, only 27.3%. Of those taking naproxen, 25%, and of those taking diclofenac, only 6.3%.
The good news is that the effect seems to be temporary – that is, only when the women were actually taking the medication (yes, they checked back a month later). But this and other previous studies do raise a number of questions. What about a lower dosage? What about one dose every couple of days? Is there a cumulative effect for someone frequently taking a NSAID? What about other NSAIDs, like ibuprofen?
This study is yet another reminder that we need to get away from “take two and call me in the morning” – no discussion of the alternatives or the risks. And headache/migraine treatment needs to be a lot more than masking pain.
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