People's Pharmacy: Ibuprofen linked to high blood pressure

Q: About 15 years ago, I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both knees. I started taking ibuprofen for the pain.

A few years later, I was at work when my heart suddenly started pounding. I went to see my primary-care provider, who found that my blood pressure was extremely high. I'd never had an elevated reading before.

He said he'd read a study showing ibuprofen linked to high blood pressure and told me to stop taking the drug. When I did, my blood pressure dropped to normal almost immediately. I haven't had high blood pressure since.

A: Anti-inflammatory drugs such as Celebrex, diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, etc.), meloxicam (Mobic) and naproxen (Aleve) often are used to alleviate pain and inflammation. There is growing recognition that such drugs can raise blood pressure. New research suggests they also might cause irregular heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation (BMJ online, July 4, 2011). Your pounding heart might have been an arrhythmia.

Q: You responded recently to a woman who almost died after a yellow-jacket sting. Your advice to get an EpiPen was good, but it should have gone further.

After I lived more than 25 years with severe insect-sting allergy, I saw an allergist. I went through years of desensitization shots. I was last tested 10 years ago and was no longer allergic.

A: EpiPen is a prescription preloaded self-injector of epinephrine. This medication can save the life of someone who goes into anaphylactic shock as a result of an allergic reaction.

Desensitization shots are time-consuming and expensive but very effective at preventing serious allergic reactions. Thank you for the recommendation.

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them c/o King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., 15th floor, New York, NY 10019, or via their website: http://www.peoplespharmacy.org.

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People's Pharmacy: Ibuprofen linked to high blood pressure