Using Vioxx or Celebrex?

10/21/04

Dear Reader,

When the pharmaceutical giant Merck removed Vioxx from the
market earlier this month, I had a hunch there would be aftershocks as more details emerged. And that hunch was correct: aftershocks have been arriving right on schedule.

For anyone who's been using either Vioxx or Celebrex (the COX-2 inhibitors that relieve pain associated with osteoarthritis), these aftershock reports carry some sobering news. But for anyone who's looking for an alternative to these drugs, I have some new information about an alternative treatment that's not only safe, but also provides some of the healthiest nutrients you can find in any dietary supplement.

The alarm that failed
This should be a bombshell, but I doubt it will get much attention from the mainstream media. When Merck pulled the plug on Vioxx, we found out that the FDA had known for years that the drug was associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. And as unsettling as that is, that's not the bombshell.

This is the bombshell: In early September, the FDA approved the use of Vioxx for kids.

Amazing, isn't it? And according to WebMD Medical News, this
approval was based on a trial that lasted only three months. Not exactly what you'd call a "long-term" study.

Meanwhile, several reports have been touting Celebrex as a safe alternative to Vioxx. For instance, in August, a study led by an FDA researcher estimated that more than 27,000 heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths might have been avoided if the patients had been using Celebrex instead of Vioxx.

Okay. Celebrex may be safer. But is it safe?
The Celebrex information flyer tells us that liver and kidney
problems are among the most serious side effects – just as they are (were) with Vioxx. But what about heart attack risk? According to a long-term study of more than 8,000 subjects that appeared in a 2000 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the heart attack rate among both Vioxx and Celebrex users was "significantly higher" compared to placebo. And while the study indicated that Vioxx was the more dangerous of the two, Celebrex was by no means risk-free.

Expert advice
In the wake of the Vioxx controversy, we're told that many
"experts" and doctors recommend using non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can be purchased over-the-
counter. But NSAIDs present plenty of problems of their own. As
we've discussed in e-Alerts and Members Alerts, all NSAIDs,
including aspirin and ibuprofen, have been shown to contribute to liver and kidney impairment, an increased risk of hypertension, and gastrointestinal conditions such as bleeding and ulcers.

Fortunately there's a natural alternative to these drugs.
In the e-Alert "Grandma Knew the Secret for Relieving Arthritis
Pain" (2/27/02) I told you about research that shows how cod liver oil may reverse the actions of the enzymes that break down cartilage. In fact, studies suggest that taking cod liver oil can even prevent the development of arthritis, while reducing symptoms in those already afflicted with the disease.

Now we have some new evidence that confirms the conclusions of the 2002 study. In research that was reported earlier this year, scientists at Cardiff University in Wales recruited more than 30 subjects who were scheduled to have knee joint replacement surgery. For a period of 10 to 12 weeks before surgery, half the subjects took high doses of cod liver oil (2,000 mg per day), and half took a placebo. During each patient's surgery, doctors removed samples of joint tissue and cartilage.

When the Cardiff researchers analyzed the samples, more than 85 percent of the cod liver oil group had significantly reduced the amount of enzymes that are known to trigger the cartilage damage typical of osteoarthritis. In some of the patients there was no trace of the enzymes. Only 26 percent of the placebo group showed reduced enzyme levels.
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Take care
For many people, cod liver oil provides an inexpensive and
effective way to relieve the pain of arthritis. In addition, this
supplement is one of the very best sources of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D; two of the most potent nutrients in the prevention of heart disease and cancer.

But a word of caution: Because cod liver oil is a natural anticoagulant, those who use blood-thinning medication like warfarin should not take it. Cod liver oil may also raise blood sugar levels in some patients, so diabetics should monitor its use very carefully. And, as always, check with your doctor or health care professional before adding cod liver oil to your daily supplements.

From the Health Sciences Institute

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Be well,
Medicine Plants™

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