Arthritis Drugs Celebrex-Vioxx Safety in Doubt by Margot B

“Arthritis drugs Vioxx, Celebrex safety in doubt”

In doubt and may not be as safe as previously thought. Research earlier this

year has shown that these drugs increased the risk of heart attacks although a

relatively low risk, over those taking a pain reliever. The FDA is debating

whether to add information about the increased risk on both drugs’ labels.

One Wall Street analyst has warned that this problem could have an adverse

effect on Merck, the drug company responsible for these drugs be placed on the

market - along with Pharmacia, which makes Celebrex, generating $2.3 billion in

12 months to March 31 of this year, Merck having sold $1.7 billion Vioxx during

the same 12 months.

Studies done last year showed that patients taking Vioxx had four times the risk

of heart attacks over patients taking Naproxen - another pain reliever. Naproxen

is also sold under the brands names of Naprosyn and Aleve. The risk of heart

attacks increases over time, at about four heart attacks per 1,000 patients.

This study was sponsored by the Merck company, which also stated that their

research does not show this problem of increased heart attacks with Vioxx.

These two drugs are among the best-sellers of prescription drugs in the world.

They cause fewer ulcers that many other drugs given for pain. Richard R. Stover,

a pharmaceutical industry analyst at Arnhold & S. Bleichroeder Inc, reported on

April 27 that he did his own analysis on what he called “disturbing data” from

Merck’s study. He stated that he was warning his clients, many of whom were

institutional investors holding stock in Merck, that they should watch the issue

carefully because it could effect the company’s stock price.

Dr. M. Michael Wolfe, chief of the gastroenterology section at the Boston

University School of Medicine and a member of the FDA advisory committee stated

that there should be a warning, after a review of the issue earlier this year,

stating that

“The marketing of these drugs is unbelievable, I’m sure there are many people

out there who are taking these drugs that should not be.”

There is a current debate going on between some doctors and Merck’s scientists

as to whether the higher risk of heart attacks is a result of Vioxx causing

damage in some patients or to an absence of the benefits that Naproxen may have

in protecting the heart, that Naproxen stops or slows the production of

thromboxane, which is thought to cause platelet in the blood to form clots,

similar to the aspirin effect.

Vioxx and Celebrex have been shown to have the same benefit in protecting the

heart.

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BIO:

Margot B, Writer, Web Developer
Margot B has written a book and hundreds of articles, specializing in health and the environment.

mailto:margotb@wonderport.com
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