Common painkillers tied to miscarriage risk

Women who use common painkillers like ibuprofen and naproxen early in pregnancy may have an increased risk of miscarriage, a study published Tuesday suggests.

Researchers found that of nearly 52,000 Quebec women who had been pregnant, those who'd used a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) after conceiving were more than twice as likely to suffer a miscarriage.

The researchers looked at NSAIDs other than aspirin -- which includes such common drugs as ibuprofen (brands like Advil and Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) and the arthritis drug celecoxib (Celebrex).

Overall, NSAID use was tied to a 2.4-times higher risk of miscarriage. (Reuters)