VIOXX AND CELEBREX INCREASE HEART ATTACKS?

[Guest guest]

VIOXX AND CELEBREX INCREASE HEART ATTACKS?

Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

The Food and Drug Administration reports that two arthritis drugs called

Celebrex and Vioxx, are associated with increased risk for heart attacks.

That does not mean that these drugs cause heart attacks.

Aspirin and other drugs use to treat arthritis, block cox-1 prostaglandins

that protect kidneys and stomach from damage and cox-2 prostaglandin that

cause redness, swelling and pain. So a common side effect of most

arthritis drugs is that they can cause stomach ulcers and kidney damage.

However, the new cox-2 blockers, Celebrex and Vioxx, to stop pain and

swelling and are less likely to cause stomach ulcers and kidney damage. But

recent reports show that people who Take Vioxx and Celebrex are at higher

risk for heart attacks than people who take aspirin and other arthritis

medications. It's not because Vioxx and Celebrex cause heart attacks, it's

because they do not prevent clotting that causes heart attacks.

FDA Committee report March, 2001