Why a -2 inhibitor could be dangerous

[Guest guest]

" The advice from the NHS is that it is not known whether other NSAIDs

increase the risk of having a heart attack or a stroke because there haven't

been any long-term studies. "

Isn't this just marvellously reassuring?? Perhaps they think that the

arthritis will kill us before the drugs do?

Love, light and peace,

Sue

" It is not unfair to conclude that medicine is the only branch of science

that has based its structure on opinions and suppositions rather than on

laws and principles. " - Vithoulkas, " The Science of Homoeopathy " .

MMRcontactnetworkUK - putting non-vaccinating

UK parents looking for naturally acquired immunity for their children in

touch with each other

Imperfectly_Natural_Parents_UK - for all

imperfectly natural parents everywhere!

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8122-1487090,00.html

Why a -2 inhibitor could be dangerous

-2 is an enzyme that makes prostaglandins that cause inflammation and

pain and fever. Some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers, NSAIDs,

are called -2inhibitors because they have the ability to block this

enzyme.

In December last year, the authorities in the UK and the US published advice

for doctors and patients about the safety of some NSAIDs.

A study by the US National Cancer Institute had showed that the drug

celecoxib (brand name Celebrex) might increase the chance of having a heart

attack or a stroke.

The study was stopped early because of the reported risk to people taking

this -2 inhibitor.

The study was done to see whether celecoxib could help prevent small growths

called polyps from growing in the bowel. About 2,400 people were treated for

an average of three years.

People who took 400mg of celecoxib twice a day were three-and-a-half times

more likely to have a heart attack or a stroke than people who took a

placebo treatment.

People who took a lower dose of 200mg twice a day were two-and-a-half times

more likely to have a heart attack or a stroke.

These results were similar to the results of studies with another -2

inhibitor called rofecoxib, brand name Vioxx, which was withdrawn from the

market in September by manufacturer, Merck.

The advice from the NHS is that it is not known whether other NSAIDs

increase the risk of having a heart attack or a stroke because there haven't

been any long-term studies.

In the UK, the Committee on the Safety of Medicines (CSM), advises patients

who are taking the -2 inhibitors celecoxib (Celebrex), etoricoxib

(Arcoxia) and valdecoxib (Bextra) to make a non-urgent appointment with

their doctor to have their treatment reviewed.

Patients who may be worried about continuing to take a -2 inhibitor

before their appointment are advised that there are no harmful side effects

from stopping taking one of these drugs, although they are likely to need an

alternative treatment to control symptoms.

The advice does not apply to people taking -2 inhibitors called etodolac

or meloxicam (Mobic).

Celebrex and Bextra, both made by Pfizer, were withdrawn from the US market

in December.

New research by Wellpoint Inc, the leading US private health insurance

group, confirmed a higher risk of heart attacks with the use of painkillers

such as Vioxx, Bextra and Celebrex.

In a letter to the FDA, Wellpoint director Nussbaum said the results

of the research showed the risks of heart attacks were 53 percent higher

than normal for Bextra, 23 percent for Vioxx and 19 percent for Celebrex.

By comparison, the study found no increase in heart attacks or other

heart-related diseases with traditional anti-inflammatory drugs.