Vioxx

Reported by Karen Palmer and Rita Daly
Toronto Star

Friday, May 28, 2004

The safety of a popular arthritis drug is in question after a Canadian study showed it may increase the risk of congestive heart failure

Arthritis patients taking Vioxx, also known as rofecoxib, were 80 per cent more likely to be put in hospital for heart failure, according to new research from the Toronto-based Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences.

The research, published today in The Lancet, builds on findings that suggest Vioxx and other anti-inflammatory drugs like it, may increase the risk of heart attacks and damage kidneys.

The findings suggest doctors need to keep a closer eye on a patient's blood pressure, which can trigger heart failure, but doctors say otherwise healthy healthy arthritis patients shouldn't panic.

"The worst thing that could happen is if people who are in pain and agony are throwing out these pills because they don't understand," said Dr. Arthur Bookman, chair of the medical advisory committee at the Arthritis Society.

"These drugs will not put a normal person with a normal heart in heart failure. They won't cause (heart failure) in someone who dosen't have it in the first place," he said.

Using a database, the indenpendent study looked at 45,000 elderly Ontarians taking Vioxx, Celebrex or pain relieves such as ibuprofen, and 100,000 others taking no drugs.

Following each group for a year, they found an 80 per cent increase in the risk of heart failure for people taking Vioxx and a 40 per cent increase for people taking traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, compared with people not taking drugs. Only Celebrex had a risk equal to that of not taking the drugs.

"Celebrex comes out looking like the winner, but it's not like it's benign; it's got some effects as well. It may be more subtle, and you can manage it with blood-pressure drugs, but it's there," said Muhammad Mandani, lead author of the study.

Vioxx and Celebrex, available only by prescription, belong to a newer class of drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors, which block a chemical that causes joints to become painful and inflammed.

The same chemical is produced in the stomach and protects against ulcers and bleeding. Traditional over-the-counter arthritis medicine, such as ibuprofen, block the chemical in both the joints and the stomach, making users susceptible to ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding. The prescription drugs reduce such stomach problems.

Vioxx, made by Merck, was approved for sale in Canada in October, 1999, to treat osteoarthritis. Last year, Canadian doctors wrote 2.4 million prescriptions for it, making it the 10th most prescribed drug in the country.

About one in five Ontario residents over 65 use an arthritis medication.

"We don't want to sound alarmist, because the absolute risks aren't incredibly high, but because of the number of people taking the drug, it might be of some concern to patients and physicians." Mandani said. "If anything, this is a warning, but it's not a definitive answer".

In early 2001, the US Food and Drug Administration became concerned about Vioxx when a Merck study designed to show that the drug reduces gastrointestinal problems also revealed that people taking it had four times the risk of heart attack.

Merck officials dismissed the FDA's concerns, saying a review of their Vioxx studies showed no increased risk of heart attack and that the drug's effect on the heart was negligible. In 2002, details about its link to cardiac events were added to the product monograph.

"Based on all the data available, Merck stands behind the safety and efficacy of Vioxx", company spokesperson Mary Elizabeth Blake said yesterday.

Recommended Syn-flex - a pharmaceutical grade liquid glucosamine complex

Syn-flex is an excellent efective glucosamine complex containing glucosamine hydrochloride and sulphate for arthritis and joint pain management. It is natural and suitable for vegetarians. Syn-flex promotes cartilage growth and with the synovial fluid eases pain within a short period of time. In liquid form, the body uptake is 98% and relief may be felt within weeks instead of months in the case of other glucosamine in powder or capsulte form.

The manufacturer of Syn-flex has a complementary product Power Plus that will provide almost immediate pain reflief while waiting for Syn-flex to "kick-in". Power Plus is a topical analgesic gel "rub-on". It contains MSM (methysulfonlymethane) to reduce muscle inflammation and Camphor to dull the nerve endings. This is why even a sports person will find it most useful and effective in easing cramps, muscle tightness and to recover from sprains quickly.

The above information is provided for general educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace competent health care advice received from a knowledgeable healthcare professional. You are urged to seek healthcare advice for the treatment of any illness or disease.
Health Canada and the FDA (USA) have not evaluated these statements. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Syn-flex or Syn-flex1500 8 oz. per bottle
CAD$36.00
3.3 oz per stick
$15.00

Glucosamine ingredients

Syn-flex ingredients
Glucosamine