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I've never tried Vioxx and probably now never will, although I have an old outdated prescription for it lying around.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

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

I didn't mean to sound too absolutist, and as always these decisions should always be made by the person suffering after as much information as possible about the risks and alternatives is available. I don't think the FDA does a very good job as a "best practices" agency -- I'd rather see them police label claims and purity but otherwise butt out of people's decisions -- but the incidents I'm thinking of tended to be people who are self-medicating for athletic purposes who had been told that very high doses were just fine for keeping joints quiet.

Severe chronic pain sufferers should have every possible treatment available, including opiates, but the "drug war" restrictions on doctors and pharmacies make it really tough to get access to them.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I don't think the FDA does a very good job as a "best practices" agency -- I'd rather see them police label claims and purity but otherwise butt out of people's decisions...

Amen, brother. :-/ Or, heck, publish studies about risk, and THEN butt out of the final decision. I would want that decision to be between the doctor and patient... or between the patient and his or her own Deity.

self-medicating for athletic purposes who had been told that very high doses were just fine for keeping joints quiet.

Heh, yeah. Again, I'm for giving an adult a good risk assessment and then letting him decide, BUT taking high doses of a potentially damaging medication so you can win the track meet does seem a little less... necessary... than taking them so you'll stay away from the sharp knives. :-)