MEDIA STATEMENT

7th December 2006

IBUPROFEN AND IT'S OTC USE

The recent coverage in the Australian media of the December article in the Australian Journal of Pharmacy is misleading at best and contrary to all the recent published authoritative comments on the safety of ibuprofen when taken for short duration low-dose use in the home.

Whatever the motives of the author in questioning this widely affirmed belief, the Australian Health Regulatory Authority has relatively recently authorised the sale of OTC ibuprofen for general sale rather than through pharmacists only as before. This means that wider and more convenient purchase is now possible from many more outlets.

It is important when considering the Australian author's views, to distinguish between short term low dose use and higher dose continuous use under medical supervision for a variety of conditions including arthritis, severe and chronic back pain etc. Current medical evidence clearly distinguishes the safety of ibuprofen at these lower, short-term doses from the long term medication uses.

A number of recent publications support this view (See references below).

Only very recently the EMEA (the body responsible for the safe and effective use of medicines in the European Community) confirmed its opinion that in OTC doses ibuprofen is unlikely to be associated with "Any significant risk in cardiovascular complications".

-ends-

References

Patel NT, Goldberg KC Arch Intern Med 2004; 164:852-856

Kurth T, et al. Circulation 2003;108 :119 1-1195

Hudson M et al, Anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with a decreased risk of recurrent acute myocardial infarction in patients on aspirin. American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting 2003

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