Fw: NEWS ALERT: Arthritis Drug Vioxx Pulled Off Market

[Guest guest]

Anyone on Vioxx?

I know my grandma Kate took it for awhile, but it was when she already had terminal cancer.

Kathy

NEWS ALERT: Arthritis Drug Vioxx Pulled Off Market

WebMD Health NewsAlert

September 30, 2004

Vioxx Pulled Off MarketThe company that makes Vioxx pulled the popular anti-inflammatory drug from the market today after concerns it increases risk of stroke and heart attack. The move comes after a recent clinical trial linked the arthritis drug to these potentially fatal conditions. Get the full story.Live EventDiscuss this news and arthritis treatment options with our arthritis expert, W. , MD, at 4 p.m. ET. Message BoardShare your thoughts on the Arthritis message board. More Information Alternative Remedies for Arthritis Test Your Arthritis Knowledge Therapy in Motion for Arthritis

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[Guest guest]

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't believe it

MSN: sarah_krein@...

Yahoo Messenger: s_krein@...

Always with a listening ear... feel free to add me!!

-----Original Message-----From: Christy Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2004 10:47 PMTo: autoimmune-ills Subject: Re: Fw: NEWS ALERT: Arthritis Drug Vioxx Pulled Off Market

I was on it until several weeks ago! Amazing!! Many many people that I know are still on it (I guess not anymore) and it's so scary! Shouldn't they have found this BEFORE is was approved?

NEWS ALERT: Arthritis Drug Vioxx Pulled Off Market

WebMD Health NewsAlert

September 30, 2004

Vioxx Pulled Off MarketThe company that makes Vioxx pulled the popular anti-inflammatory drug from the market today after concerns it increases risk of stroke and heart attack. The move comes after a recent clinical trial linked the arthritis drug to these potentially fatal conditions. Get the full story.Live EventDiscuss this news and arthritis treatment options with our arthritis expert, W. , MD, at 4 p.m. ET. Message BoardShare your thoughts on the Arthritis message board. More Information Alternative Remedies for Arthritis Test Your Arthritis Knowledge Therapy in Motion for Arthritis

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[Guest guest]

I was on it until several weeks ago! Amazing!! Many many people that I know are still on it (I guess not anymore) and it's so scary! Shouldn't they have found this BEFORE is was approved?

NEWS ALERT: Arthritis Drug Vioxx Pulled Off Market

WebMD Health NewsAlert

September 30, 2004

Vioxx Pulled Off MarketThe company that makes Vioxx pulled the popular anti-inflammatory drug from the market today after concerns it increases risk of stroke and heart attack. The move comes after a recent clinical trial linked the arthritis drug to these potentially fatal conditions. Get the full story.Live EventDiscuss this news and arthritis treatment options with our arthritis expert, W. , MD, at 4 p.m. ET. Message BoardShare your thoughts on the Arthritis message board. More Information Alternative Remedies for Arthritis Test Your Arthritis Knowledge Therapy in Motion for Arthritis

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[Guest guest]

How scary. I used to take it. I think my father-in-law is taking it. I called them and left a message. Thanks for passing this along Kathy!

[Guest guest]

You're welcome.

Kathy

RE: Fw: NEWS ALERT: Arthritis Drug Vioxx Pulled Off Market

How scary. I used to take it. I think my father-in-law is taking it. I called them and left a message. Thanks for passing this along Kathy!

Please visit our website at:http://ACES_Autoimmune.tripod.com

[Guest guest]

You're welcome.

Kathy

RE: Fw: NEWS ALERT: Arthritis Drug Vioxx Pulled Off Market

How scary. I used to take it. I think my father-in-law is taking it. I called them and left a message. Thanks for passing this along Kathy!

Please visit our website at:http://ACES_Autoimmune.tripod.com

[Guest guest]

You're welcome.

Kathy

RE: Fw: NEWS ALERT: Arthritis Drug Vioxx Pulled Off Market

How scary. I used to take it. I think my father-in-law is taking it. I called them and left a message. Thanks for passing this along Kathy!

Please visit our website at:http://ACES_Autoimmune.tripod.com

[Guest guest]

Ideally. But their test groups may not have been followed for long enough, or may not be the ones that are affected, etc. The test that found this wasn't testing Vioxx for side effects, but were testing for something else. I can't remember what...it was on the news last night, not mentioned in the article.

Also....prior to 18 months of use there is no increased risk of heart attack or stroke, and after 18 months the risk doubled, but that still only puts 15 out of 1000 patients at increased risk. So no one should panic, just stop using it.

I'm on Bextra, and apparently now they have questions about all the -2 inhibitors. But since I don't want yet another pill ...which I would need to take for the GI affects if I were using NSAIDS....I'm sticking with the Bextra.

I don't even think that the proton pump inhibitors would do much to help me because on my second dose of an NSAID my IBS kicks into major high gear. So if they end up taking all the COX 2 inhibitors off the market, I'm screwed.

Kathy

NEWS ALERT: Arthritis Drug Vioxx Pulled Off Market

WebMD Health NewsAlert

September 30, 2004

Vioxx Pulled Off MarketThe company that makes Vioxx pulled the popular anti-inflammatory drug from the market today after concerns it increases risk of stroke and heart attack. The move comes after a recent clinical trial linked the arthritis drug to these potentially fatal conditions. Get the full story.Live EventDiscuss this news and arthritis treatment options with our arthritis expert, W. , MD, at 4 p.m. ET. Message BoardShare your thoughts on the Arthritis message board. More Information Alternative Remedies for Arthritis Test Your Arthritis Knowledge Therapy in Motion for Arthritis

From Our Sponsor

WebMD Health Manager offers a private, confidential place to store, access, plan, compare, track, and organize your family's health information. Start taking control of your health today.

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Manage your newsletter selections at the Newsletter Center.

WebMD Health Privacy PolicyWebMD Inc., Attn: Office of Privacy1175 Peachtree Street, Suite 2400, 100 Colony Square, Atlanta, GA 30361©2004 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved. Please visit our website at:http://ACES_Autoimmune.tripod.com Please visit our website at:http://ACES_Autoimmune.tripod.com

[Guest guest]

I hadn't read far enough to see exactly what the risks were as far as the heart issue.

I agree that everyone should have the final decision about anything concerning their health, etc, BUT I really do think that much of the time it would be only fair to discuss the choices with with those close to us. After all....we aren't the only ones affected by our decisions. Of course I'm not advocating handing anyone else the control...but sometimes their imput may present an angle that we hadn't thought of.

And of course I'm not saying in all cases, just in cases where there is a strong, loving, supportive relationship.

For instance...I had put off going to any kind of narcotic for about two years now, despite steadily increasing pain. And it wasn't the addiction thing. There were alot of factors, actually, and many of them had to do with being perceived as weak, with having many family members who are recovering (and some not) addicts, with fear of needing something stronger later and having it no longer work, etc.

But despite all the exercise, meditation, etc, etc, and having tried the various meds without success, the pain just kept getting worse.

So Denny was with me at the Doc appt (Mom usually takes me, but I had a late-day appt. Mom never says much in the appt.) and he asked wasn't there something stronger I could have for pain. When the Doc said that the next step was narcotics and I hadn't been willing to go there (which Denny did know, BTW), Denny asked if there was really any reason I shouldn't (meaning further damage to my health, etc). When the Doc said no, Denny looked at me and said that he knew I was worried about being no good to anyone, including myself and pointed out that I was at that point now because of the pain and I could always discontinue the stuff if it didn't help, etc. I decided I'd try it.

He didn't have the final decision, I did, but his input was priceless. And boy am I glad I made that decision.

Kathy

Re: Fw: NEWS ALERT: Arthritis Drug Vioxx Pulled Off Market

Absolutely; he has about a three-year supply and fully intends tokeep using it until it's gone.The heart problems in Marfan's aren't classical heart disease;they're caused by mitral valve prolapse, and aortic dissection --both the result of the connective tissue disorder. So, no; he'sat minimal risk, especially since he has no other risk factorsfor classical congestive heart failure; he's skinny as a rail,has very low LDL and total cholesterol numbers; and a very highHDL. Looking at the data, only people at high risk for classicalCHD had any substantial increase in risk.And, I would absolutely agree with a waiver system; after all,most of the drugs I'm on will either torch my liver or mykidneys, given enough time. But, I have knowingly chosen to usethem because, for me, quality of life right now is all there is. Longevity just isn't an issue.Which, I think, IS a major part of the issue. You shouldn't haveto argue with your family over your choices; you should considerboth short-term and long-term issues. But, in the finalanalysis, it really should come down to MY choice. What can Isay; I believe in adults being allowed to make their own choices;but, given that they are fully informed of all known factors whenthey make those choices, I also believe in their having to live-- or die -- with the consequences. I really, really don't likeother people making protectionist decisions / laws for me. OTOH,I can understand the company pulling the drug . . . the lawsuitshave already started.Owens==========But would decide to use it anyway? Isn't he already atrisk due to Marfan's?I agree that we should get to make our own decisions, though, butsign a waiver so that we couldn't sue thedrug companies or the Doc. Too many people wouldn't tell theirfamilies about their meds and the risks, andtoo many people can't see past their nose and might choseimmediate symptom relief over long-term health.KathyPlease visit our website at:http://ACES_Autoimmune.tripod.com