In the News

Certain birth control pills combined with painkillers raise clot risk. The concomitant use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and certain hormonal contraceptives increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in women of reproductive age, according to a September 6 study in BMJ. It has been well established that individually NSAIDs and certain hormonal contraceptives, particularly those combining estrogen and progestin, are associated with increased risk of VTE. In the BMJ study, researchers sought to determine the effect taking both drugs would have on VTE risk. Using records from multiple databases, they followed over 2 million women, ages 15 to 49, for 10 years. Consistent with prior studies, they found a positive association between use of NSAIDs and VTE, with an incidence rate ratio of 7.2%. That risk escalated significantly to 11% in women also using high-risk hormonal contraceptives. Considering the widespread use of NSAIDs, it's important that nurses advise women using contraceptives of the increased risk.