Bextra

[Guest guest]

I saw where the Bextra got pulled. What was it for? Was it like Vioxx?

Angie in SC

" The happiest of people don't necessarily have the

best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along

their way. "

[Guest guest]

Hi Angie,

Bextra is a mild perscription analgesic and it is in the same chemical family

as Vioxx and Celebrex. Recent data indicates a chance of increased heart

problems (slight) whlle taking any of these drugs. However the chance seems very

slight, the data is incomplete, other things may be involved, etc.

I don't think this is an overreaction by the FDA but a cautious analysis and

approch.

Studies are slight as compared to sales of these drugs and incidents of

problems are slight. One thorn in the side of the manufacturers is that they

spend

so much advertizing and promoting these new (when they were new) drugs that it

seems like the companys would rather spend their money on " promotion " rather

than research the safety. I have read that Meryk spent 500 million bucks in

introducing and promoting Vioxx. Who knows, 500 million here and 500 million

there and soon you are talking serious money.

It's too bad that old cheap, reliable standbys like opiates are ignored while

massive amounts of money goes to the development and introduction and

promotion of new compounds that are expensive, might have side effects, and are

not

as effective. Yes, addiction can be a problem but I think there could be ways

developed to better deal with the addiction issue than ignore the perscribing,

use, and benefits of addictive drugs.

Best wishes, Poncho - GA