Vioxx Recalled

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Just passing this on as I'm sure there are a lot of CP'ers here with elderly parents affected by arthritis.

Linkety-Link

Pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. is pulling its blockbuster arthritis drug Vioxx from the market worldwide because new data from a clinical trial found an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

How many times does this have to happen? Seldane for allergies caused heart problems. Phen/fen ate your heart valves. I wonder how much clinical science is being compromised in the rush to get a product to market.

[transplant99]

A lot more people are affected by arthritis than "elderly" people.

My wife has been on this stuff for 3 years now.

Very very disturbing news.

[Lurch]

Interestingly, I just had minor surgery a few days back and they gave me Vioxx as a general anti-inflammatory for a week to keep the swelling down. I only realized this morning I was even on it - I talked to the doc (who had been prescribing this one b/c it is the least likely to cuz digestive problems and vomiting would cause me extreme pain right now, if not rupture the incision) who said this is not a new issue. He feels that as long as people are aware of the risk, it should be up to them to decide whether the potential heart problems are worse than the sometimes rather severe side effects of the alternative drugs (or the arthritis in the first place).

[Tron_fdc]

I find it kinda funny that while there is a huge panic about Vioxx causing heart problems in some rare cases, companies like Wendy's or Mcdonald's are still able to flog their heart stopping artery clogging wares to the open public.

What's the greater risk? Why aren't the heart attacks caused by these companies making headlines?

[Wookie]

Originally posted by plett22@Oct 1 2004, 03:19 PM
I find it kinda funny that while there is a huge panic about Vioxx causing heart problems in some rare cases, companies like Wendy's or Mcdonald's are still able to flog their heart stopping artery clogging wares to the open public.

What's the greater risk? Why aren't the heart attacks caused by these companies making headlines?

Well I do see the point you're trying to make, however those foods aren't being taken as a prescried medicine by doctors to make someone more healthy.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally posted by transplant99@Sep 30 2004, 07:30 PM
A lot more people are affected by arthritis than "elderly" people.

My wife has been on this stuff for 3 years now.

Very very disturbing news.

My wife has severe arthritis as well. They tried her on Vioxx and it made her sick so she stopped taking it. In fact, she's to the point where the only 'drug' she takes is Aleve...and she fights through the pain. She does take some naturopathic supplements.

Does your wife have Rheumatoid Tranny?

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally posted by plett22@Oct 1 2004, 09:19 PM
I find it kinda funny that while there is a huge panic about Vioxx causing heart problems in some rare cases, companies like Wendy's or Mcdonald's are still able to flog their heart stopping artery clogging wares to the open public.

What's the greater risk? Why aren't the heart attacks caused by these companies making headlines?

The same reason lung cancer deaths from smoking aren't big news. Nobody's doctor told them to eat the stuff....huge difference.

[transplant99]

Does your wife have Rheumatoid Tranny?

She does...as well as very bad swelling around her lower spine.

All caused by a car accident about 10 years ago. Then they botched the back surgery a bit which made the back worse. Also it seemed to spawn the discovery of scoliosis...and voila....doomed her to a life of pain.

Since then this has led to the development of fibromyalgia. Its a viscious cycle.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally posted by transplant99@Oct 2 2004, 01:06 PM

She does...as well as very bad swelling around her lower spine.

All caused by a car accident about 10 years ago. Then they botched the back surgery a bit which made the back worse. Also it seemed to spawn the discovery of scoliosis...and voila....doomed her to a life of pain.

Since then this has led to the development of fibromyalgia. Its a viscious cycle.

Yes, this is something we found out too...trauma to the body can 'turn on' arthritis. My wife has also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Her trauma, believe it or not, was a spider bite. Not as traumatic as a car accident obviously, but it traumatized her immune system enough to do the trick.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Argh - very true, was wrong of me to use the typical stereotype of arthritis as being for the elderly only. Lots of people in car accidents apparently get put on Vioxx to treat a lot of the chronic aches and pains.

Has your wife tried Celebrex? My mother did and said it wasn't as effective. And I've heard rumours it may be next to be pulled.....