Posted on 12/20/2004 7:29:28 PM PST by crushelits
<> The new findings bring to three the number of widely used anti-inflammatory drugs suddenly in the spotlight for their potential health risks. Vioxx was pulled from the market this fall, and its sister drug Celebrex, the blockbuster arthritis drug, was linked to heart attacks and strokes last week, stopping a major clinical trial.Researchers uncovered the potential problem with naproxen on Friday during a quick review of data from a large, ongoing three-year-old National Institutes of Health study. As part of that study, which has aimed to see if anti-inflammatory drugs can help delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease, 2,500 elderly people have been receiving regular doses of naproxen or Celebrex.
The Alzheimer's study review, triggered by Celebrex's recent woes, surprised officials by revealing a 50 percent increase in heart attacks or strokes among study participants taking naproxen compared with those who had been taking placebos. There were no apparent increases in those life-threatening events among those taking Celebrex -- a reassuring if somewhat confusing finding in light of other evidence to the contrary.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The studies fail to tell you that most of the participants also ate broccoli in large amounts.
Oh well. there is always codeine. Ironic isn't it, that the paranoia of narcotics that actually DO relieve pain, led to the proliferation of all these drugs that are for the most part innefective against pain, and are turning out to have negative cardio-vascular effect.
Naproxen has been on the market for a long long time, perhaps 20 to 30 years or even longer under the brand name Naprosyn.
How in the sam hell can a product be around for that long, and nobody notice a 50% increase in heart problems?
Perhaps the new studies used elevated strengths over what was the normal doseage over the years.
BTW, I guess this could be the silver lining, but those who died of Heart Failure and Strokes were probably mostly Alsheimers free. Groan...
Luckily I don't take any OTC meds every day, just every once in a while (and no prescriptions). One of those is Aleve, which works like a charm, and for a long time (most of the waking day). Ibuprofen chews up my stomach.
For an anti-inflamatory, I use a health food product - Bromelain. Less expensive, no side effects, and it works.
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