Common painkillers may not cause blood clots in women on hormonal contraceptives
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A study of more than 3 million hormonal contraceptive users across four European countries questions whether NSAID painkillers genuinely raise the risk of venous thromboembolism. Xintong Li and colleagues analysed women aged 15-49 from 2014 to 2024 using a self-controlled case series, comparing periods of hormonal contraceptive use alone with periods before, during and after combined NSAID use. VTE risk rose in the two weeks before NSAID treatment began and peaked on the day treatment started, a pattern hard to attribute to the drug itself. Ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen all showed similar patterns, as did acetaminophen, which was included as a negative control. The findings suggest the elevated VTE risk seen in NSAID users may stem at least in part from pre-existing health problems rather than the painkillers. The work is a single observational analysis and has not yet prompted any regulatory response.
Written by a model from the reports · updated 3 hours ago
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- Medical XpressPickCommon painkiller may not be to blame for blood clots in women on the pill
Drawing on data from more than 3 million hormonal contraceptive users in four European countries, Xintong Li and colleagues suggest that the raised VTE risk among NSAID users may arise at least in part from pre-existing health problems. The study included women aged 15–49 from 2014–2024 and used a self-controlled case series to compare hormonal contraceptive use alone with use combined with NSAIDs before, during and after exposure; risk rose two weeks before treatment, peaked on the start day, and ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen and the acetaminophen negative control showed similar patterns.
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