• Home
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Teachings
  • Projects
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Donate Now

Will Drug Companies & the FDA Learn …?

January 6, 2005 by alsearsmd in Pain Relief

Will Drug Companies & The FDA Learn from Vioxx?
It Doesn’t Look Like It…
Health Alert #237

When Merck voluntarily recalled Vioxx on September 30th, 5 years and 105 million prescriptions after its debut, users were stunned. How could a drug billed as part of the new, “safer” generation of pain killers double your risk for heart attack and stroke? What’s more, why was it sold for so long?

There were early warning signs that Vioxx was dangerous. In fact, Health Alert readers first learned about them here back on 4/24/03 in Health Alert 74. Today you’ll also learn how Vioxx is a symptom of bigger problems within the drug industry, and how the FDA could be making the exact same mistake judging the safety of other drugs still on the market.

* Vioxx: A Symptom of A Bigger Problem *

One year after Vioxx hit the market executives at Merck learned of a clinical trial showing this new “super-safe” pain reliever might pose a heart risk. They chose NOT to run a study to find out for sure. Instead, they decided to monitor existing Vioxx trials on other issues for cardiovascular side effects and risks.

It’s the safe until proven otherwise philosophy that’s now pervasive in much of modern medicine. So where, you’re probably wondering, was the FDA during all of this? Did they know? As it turns out, they did…

Even before the FDA approved Vioxx an FDA drug reviewer wrote that it could conceivably hurt the heart. Then, in 2000 Merck showed the FDA the results of their own study revealing users of Vioxx suffered greater heart risk than those that used naproxen.

Naproxen is another anti-inflammatory sold over the counter as Aleve. But the FDA did not withdraw the drug. In fact, the FDA approved its new use in children in September of 2004; just weeks before Merck voluntarily recalled Vioxx!

Congress smells something fishy here and has launched an investigation into the FDA’s handling of Vioxx safety.

* So, What about the Other Cox-2’s? *

Of course, the other Cox-2 inhibiting pain relievers are still on the market and drug makers are insisting they’re safe too. In fact, Pfizer is sending out publicity information to doctors telling them they should “feel good” about prescribing Celebrex. But unfortunately, just like Vioxx, studies are revealing a different truth.

A recent study revealed that those taking Celebrex suffered from a decrease of blood flow to the heart. The study also revealed that the incident of heart attack is HIGHER in Celebrex users than in those using ibuprofen.

The moral of the story? The drug industry has failed us in coming up with a new, safer pain-relieving substitute for aspirin and ibuprofen. And the FDA is dropping the ball again by allowing them to remain on the market despite a growing body of research revealing their dangers.

A study led by Dr. Garret Fitzgerald shows the problem may not be a specific drug, but the entire Cox-2 class of drugs. Dr. Fitzgerald found that shutting down Cox-2 long term may kick-start arteriosclerosis-especially in women. Not to mention the fact that years of studies link Vioxx and Celebrex to gastrointestinal hemorrhaging, kidney damage, and heart palpitations. You can find more about these dangers and natural safer alternatives in Heath Alert 74.

In your next Health Alert you’ll see how the FDA is making the same mistakes with 5 other popular drugs touted to be safe.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears MD


Tweet
Share
Pin it
Previous StoryWhat Bill Clinton’s Doctors Missed Next StoryThe Next FDA Earthquake
  • Popular
  • Latest
  • Comments
  • 26th March 2021

     What All Healthy People Have In Common

  • 29th March 2004

     Calisthenics

  • 6th February 2015

     Natural Stress-Buster that Lets You Live Longer

  • 9th December 2004

     Beware the Modern Medical Hex

  • 25th April 2005

     A Reliable Source of Brain Power

  • 26th March 2021

     What All Healthy People Have In Common

  • 6th February 2015

     Natural Stress-Buster that Lets You Live Longer

  • 23rd January 2015

     The Greatest Health Scam In History Used President Eisenhower As A Pawn

  • 13th January 2012

     Six Swaps For Your Best Health

  • 26th June 2006

     9 Easy Steps to Perfect Health

  • 263102 JanpmThu, 06 Jan 2005 14:22:57 +00002005-01-06T14:22:57+00:0002 2021

     What All Healthy People Have In Common

  • 283102 J0000001+00:00 2002

     The Problem with HRT Is … It isn’t

  • 15731 J000000Thursday05 2002

     Sex, Drugs, and Lies

  • 53102 J000000Thursday05 2002

     A Problem Waiting to Happen

  • 263102 th+00:00p31+00:0001b+00:00Thu, 06 Jan 2005 14:22:57 +0000 2002

     The Truth About Cholesterol

CATEGORIES

  • Anti-Aging
  • Anxiety/Depression
  • Diabetes
  • Erectile Dysfunction
  • Heart Disease
  • High Cholesterol
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy
  • Libido Enhancement
  • Men's Health
  • Nutritional Therapies
  • Pain Relief
  • Personal Exercise
  • Prostate
  • Seminar
  • Women's Health

ARCHIVES

  • March 2021
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • January 2012
  • June 2006
  • October 2005
  • April 2005
  • March 2005
  • February 2005
  • January 2005
  • December 2004
  • November 2004
  • October 2004
  • August 2004
  • July 2004
  • June 2004
  • May 2004
  • March 2004
  • February 2004
  • November 2003
  • October 2003
  • September 2003
  • August 2003
  • July 2003
  • June 2003
  • May 2003
  • April 2003
  • March 2003
  • February 2003
  • January 2003
  • December 2002
  • November 2002
  • October 2002
  • September 2002
  • July 2002
  • June 2002

  • Our mission
  • Our projects
  • Privacy Policy

  • Blog
  • Contact Us