Anti-inflammatories and risk of heart problems

[cjsmith]

I keep hearing news of heart problems related to anti-inflammatories. Vioxx, Bextra, Celebrex, and now naproxen sodium (Aleve) have all been found to carry some risk. [Links plagiarized from sunnydale47 with thanks!]

I've never tried Vioxx and probably now never will, although I have an old outdated prescription for it lying around. It's been taken off the market entirely. Bextra and Celebrex do little or nothing for me. Naproxen works.

I can see getting worried about the dangers. I can understand this news being the reason for changing what one would do, if one's pain isn't all that bad to begin with.

My life without anti-inflammatories wouldn't be worth a mouse's fart. I'm going to keep taking Aleve. Of course, I am also going to hope that I'm lucky enough to escape the heart trouble. My life WITH anti-inflammatories is worth keeping.

I am also going to stock up in case the FDA decides for me what risks I can and cannot take.

Comments

[kimatha.livejournal.com]

I was talking with my mom today about this stuff and chronic pain. I think there are a lot of people who would gladly accept the increased risk in exchange for having day-to-day mobility and manageable levels of pain. Aleve doesn't work for me, but Advil works on my TMJ pain and Exedrin works on all other headaches. If either of those were recalled, I would have a lot more sick days.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

If either of those were recalled, I would have a lot more sick days.

*nod*

It's funny how we can talk about "quality of life" as something worth considering for a cat or dog, but somehow there's a wild reaction when we start talking about risk assessment for humans.

[ambar.livejournal.com]

That's partly because no one goes to jail for euthanizing a cat or a dog.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and I'd classify that as effect rather than cause. There's something that stops humans from *thinking*, where human death is concerned.