Diclofenac-containing medicines
- Procedure started
- Under evaluation
- PRAC recommendation
- CMDh position
- European Commission final decision
Table of contents
Overview
New safety advice for diclofenac
New measures aim to minimise cardiovascular risks
On 28 June 2013, the Co-ordination Group for Mutual Recognition and Decentralised Procedures – Human (CMDh) endorsed by majority new safety advice for diclofenac-containing medicines that are given by means such as capsules, tablets, suppositories or injections, intended to have an effect on the whole body (known as a systemic effect). The new advice aims to minimise the risks of effects on the heart and circulation from these medicines.
This followed a review by the European Medicines Agency's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) which found that the effects of systemic diclofenac on the heart and circulation are similar to those of selective COX-2 inhibitors, another group of painkillers. This applies particularly when diclofenac is used at a high dose and for long-term treatment. The PRAC therefore recommended that the same precautions already in place to minimise the risks of blood clots in the arteries with selective COX-2 inhibitors should be applied to diclofenac.
The CMDh agreed with the PRAC conclusion that although the benefits of systemic diclofenac still outweigh the risks, those risks were similar to the risks with COX-2 inhibitors, and it endorsed the recommendation that similar precautions should be applied.
The CMDh position was sent to the European Commission, which confirmed it and took a final legally binding decision throughout the EU on 25 September 2013.
Diclofenac is a widely used medicine for relieving pain and inflammation, particularly in painful conditions such as arthritis. It belongs to a group of medicines called 'non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs' (NSAIDs). The safety of NSAIDs has been closely monitored by regulatory authorities in the EU. Reviews of these medicines carried out in 2005, 2006 and 2012 have confirmed that NSAIDs as a class are associated with a small increased risk of arterial thromboembolic events (blood clots in the arteries) especially in patients with underlying heart or circulatory conditions or with certain cardiovascular risk factors, which in some cases has led to heart attack or stroke, particularly if used at high dose and for long periods.
A class warning of this risk is in place and the product information for all NSAIDs recommends that these medicines be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest period of time necessary to control symptoms. As the risk is known to be somewhat higher with the subgroup of NSAIDs known as selective COX-2 inhibitors, increased measures to minimise risk are recommended in their product information.
The PRAC review of diclofenac was started at the request of the UK medicines regulatory agency, the MHRA, in October 2012 in response to findings from the 2012 review of NSAIDs. The latter identified a small increased risk of these cardiovascular side effects with diclofenac compared with other NSAIDs - an increase similar to that seen with the COX-2 inhibitors. The cardiovascular risk with any NSAID depends on a person's underlying risk factors, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels and also any underlying heart or circulatory conditions. About 8 people in 1,000 at moderate risk of heart disease are likely to have a heart attack over one year. The overall number of heart attacks in people at moderate risk would be expected to increase by around 3 cases per year for every 1,000 people treated with diclofenac (to 11 per 1,000 people per year).
Key facts
About this medicine
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Approved name |
Diclofenac-containing medicines
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International non-proprietary name (INN) or common name |
diclofenac
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Class |
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
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About this procedure
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Current status |
European Commission final decision
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Reference number |
EMEA/H/A-31/1344
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Type | |
Authorisation model |
Nationally authorised product(s)
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Decision making model |
PRAC-CMDh
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Key dates and outcomes
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Procedure start date |
31/10/2012
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PRAC recommendation date |
13/06/2013
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CHMP opinion/CMDh position date |
26/06/2013
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EC decision date |
25/09/2013
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Outcome |
Risk minimisation measures
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All documents
Procedure started
Diclofenac Article-31 referral - Timetable for the procedure (PDF/61.26 KB)
First published: 31/10/2012
Last updated: 17/05/2013
EMA/PRAC/696496/2012
Diclofenac Article-31 referral - Notification (PDF/554.29 KB)
First published: 31/10/2012
Last updated: 31/10/2012
Diclofenac Article-31 referral - Review started (PDF/65.21 KB)
First published: 31/10/2012
Last updated: 31/10/2012
EMA/693599/2012
Diclofenac Article-31 referral - Annex I (PDF/2.51 MB)
First published: 31/10/2012
Last updated: 27/11/2013
EMA/704684/2012 Rev. 1
Diclofenac Article-31 referral - PRAC list of questions (PDF/74.94 KB)
First published: 31/10/2012
Last updated: 31/10/2012
EMA/PRAC/696495/2012
Recommendation provided by Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee
Diclofenac Article-31 referral - PRAC assessment report (PDF/726.23 KB)
First published: 27/11/2013
Last updated: 27/11/2013
EMEA/H/A-31/1344
Diclofenac Article-31 referral - PRAC recommends the same cardiovascular precautions for diclofenac as for selective COX-2 inhibitors (PDF/189.89 KB)
First published: 14/06/2013
Last updated: 14/06/2013
EMA/353084/2013
Position provided by CMDh
Diclofenac Article-31 referral - Divergent position to CMDh position (PDF/24.19 KB)
First published: 27/11/2013
Last updated: 27/11/2013
EMEA/H/A-31/1344
Diclofenac Article-31 referral - Annex III (PDF/24.61 KB)
First published: 27/11/2013
Last updated: 27/11/2013
EMEA/H/A-31/1344
Diclofenac Article-31 referral - Annex II (PDF/45.64 KB)
First published: 27/11/2013
Last updated: 27/11/2013
EMEA/H/A-31/1344
Diclofenac Article-31 referral - New safety advice for diclofenac – CMDh endorses PRAC recommendation (PDF/82.93 KB)
First published: 28/06/2013
Last updated: 28/06/2013
EMA/380947/2013
European Commission final decision
Description of documents published
Please note that some of the listed documents apply only to certain procedures.
- Overview - lay-language summary of the stage of the procedure
- Notification – a letter from a Member State, the European Commission or the marketing authorisation holder requesting the initiation of the procedure
- Scientific background – further background information from the triggering Member State on the issues leading to the initiation of the procedure (if applicable)
- List of questions – questions agreed by the Committee requesting further information from the marketing authorisation holder(s) / applicant(s) to evaluate the issues identified
- Timetable for the procedure – agreed timeframe to respond to the list of questions, to assess the issues and to adopt a conclusion
- List of medicines concerned by the procedure – medicine(s) / active substance(s) concerned, and marketing authorisation holder(s) / applicant(s)
- List of questions to be addressed by the stakeholders – call for data to be submitted by stakeholders (e.g. healthcare professionals, patient organisations, individual patients) (if applicable)
- Stakeholder submission form – form to be used by stakeholders to submit data (if applicable)
- Scientific conclusions – scientific conclusions of the PRAC and/or CHMP and/or CMDh
- Assessment report – PRAC or CHMP assessment and conclusions on the issues investigated, including divergent positions (if applicable)
- Divergent positions – divergent positions of the CHMP or CMDh members for pharmacovigilance procedures (if applicable)
- Changes to the summary of product characteristics, labelling and package leaflet (amended sections or fully revised version) (if applicable)
- Condition(s) to the marketing authorisation(s) – condition(s) for the safe and effective use of the medicine(s) (if applicable)
- Condition for lifting the suspension – condition to be fulfilled for the suspension of the marketing authorisation(s) to be lifted (if applicable)
- Timetable for implementation of CMDh position – agreed timeframe to submit and finalise the variation(s) implementing the outcome of the procedure (if applicable)
Note that older documents may have different titles.