Do you rely on Vioxx, Celebrex or Aleve (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs) to ease pain? If you suffer from inflammatory arthritis or pain due to injuries, you probably are familiar with one of these drugs. No doubt you have also heard recent reports linking some NSAIDs with an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Belonging to a class called Cox-2 inhibitors,
drugs in question work by reducing inflammation and pain, while having a minimal effect on stomach bleeding and ulcers. But several studies have raised questions as to long-term consequences of using Vioxx, Celebrex, Aleve and, possibly, other drugs in this classification. What are facts and do you have an alternative for pain relief?According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration: - “FDA is issuing an advisory because of recently released data from controlled clinical trials showing that COX-2 selective agents (Vioxx, Celebrex, and Bextra) may be associated with an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events (heart attack and stroke) especially when they are used for long periods of time or in very high risk settings (immediately after heart surgery).” Dec. 23, 2004
- “Also, as FDA announced earlier this week, preliminary results from a long-term clinical trial (up to three years) suggest that long-term use of a non-selective NSAID, naproxen (sold as Aleve, Naprosyn and other trade name and generic products), may be associated with an increased cardiovascular (CV) risk compared to placebo.” Dec. 23, 2004
The Results: - Vioxx was voluntarily pulled from market September 30, 2004.
- The FDA notified healthcare professionals to consider risk that cardiovascular events may be increased in patients receiving Celebrex.
- The FDA urged consumers buying over-the-counter medications such as Aleve, to strictly follow label directions.
- The FDA is analyzing all available information from recent studies to determine whether additional regulatory action is needed.
Ice Therapy: A Pain Relief Alternative In this day and age when taking a pill might seem like easiest solution, it’s not always best. Is there an alternative to medication for pain relief? Yes! One of oldest and safest methods of controlling pain and inflammation is ice therapy. Proven to be effective at reducing swelling, numbing pain and decreasing muscle spasms, ice therapy is an easy self-care technique. Compared to medications discussed, ice therapy has no side effects, including fear of heart complications.
Most doctors and therapists recommend using an ice pack to treat acute and chronic pain, as well as help with joint inflammation.* Using an ice pack immediately after an injury occurs can dramatically reduce recovery time. Every runner knows that icing sore knees after a long run will get them back in race faster. Ice is also one of best ways to reduce swelling and bruising after surgery.
