Ventura Chiropractic & Massage
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~ Holistic Center for Healthy Living ~
           A Great Marriage of Chiropractic & Massage          
         Dr. Kristofer Young & Jo Young, CMT
   
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Vioxx

A review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that patients who take Vioxx had their risk of heart attack, stoke, and related events increase by 238%. The authors note that people who take these newer drugs had "significantly higher" rates of heart attack and stroke. "The annualized [heart attack] rates for [the new COX-2 inhibitors] were significantly higher than that in the placebo group..." JAMA 2001 Aug 22-29; pages 954-9

Increased risk for high blood pressure: Patients taking Vioxx are at increased risk for having their blood pressure get too high. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, and renal failure. "Systolic blood pressure increased significantly in 17% of rofecoxib- compared with 11% of celecoxib-treated patients..." Am J Ther 2001 Mar-Apr;8(2):85-95

Increased risk for kidney problems and renal failure: Vioxx can also cause acute kidney failure. Authors in The Lancet describe a patient whose kidneys started to fail after taking Vioxx. The patient's condition improved following discontinuation of the drug, thereby suggesting that the drug was the cause of the kidney disease. Lancet 2001 Jun 16: pages 1946-7

Lack of effectiveness, despite increased toxicity and increased cost? A recent article noted that in a comparison study the new drug "was no more effective" than the older, less expensive drugs, and that its pain-relieving effects were "disappointing." Prescrire Int 2000 Dec;9(50):166-7, 169