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I've never tried Vioxx and probably now never will, although I have an old outdated prescription for it lying around.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

Re: eeks

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm begining to wonder about the FDA.

I wonder too. We're not alone; some people believe it should be up to the doctor and patient to determine whether a risk is worth taking in that patient's case.

I take Tylenol for the kinds of pain that it helps with. Sadly, that's not much. For the direct nerve pain, Aleve is it. :-/

Re: eeks

[lesliepear.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you have such pain - did the feet numbing help at all?

Re: eeks

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh, the bad pain I have isn't the feet. It's the herniated nerves in the belly. The feet were never anywhere near as bad as the abdominal pain -- they were just *fixable*, so I went ahead and got them fixed. :-) My feet are pretty inflamed now, producing a level of pain I'd call an "annoyance". That's expected to subside in the next few weeks. Then I can tell whether the treatment was successful.