Vioxx Side Effects

Due to the serious potential Vioxx side effects, the manufacturer was urged to pull the popular anti-inflammatory drug from the market in 2004. Vioxx was used to relieve symptoms of arthritis, acute pain in adults, and painful menstrual cycles, before studies revealed possible harmful drug side effects Vioxx could engender, such as an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, among others. The incidences of Vioxx side effects have impacted how the government, doctors and patients view this new class of selective NSAIDs called COX-2 inhibitors.

After the FDA approved Vioxx in 1999, Merck continued to perform clinical trials on the drug and possible Vioxx side effects. Merck's own studies would eventually spell out the demise of the popular medicine due to the potential side effects of Vioxx the study revealed. After analyzing the data, the FDA and its team of health experts had little choice but to issue a warning about the drug side effects Vioxx caused in patients who used it for eighteen months or longer. As a result, Merck voluntarily removed the drug from the market.

But patients who experienced relief while on the drug were left wondering, "Does Vioxx have side effects that really outweigh the benefit I'm receiving?" The safest answer is yes. Although Vioxx can ease pain by blocking prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that act as chemical messengers communicating pain and inflammation throughout the body, adverse reactions can occur in some patients. Studies showed that with drugs like Vioxx side effects such as increased risk of heart attack, stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding in the form of stomach ulcers existed. These problems brought to light an issue that not only affected Vioxx, but impacted similar drugs, as well.

This is because, Vioxx is also closely related to the nonselective NSAIDs, such as Ibuprofen, known also by the brand names of Motrin and Advil, to name a few. In fact, the FDA recently advised manufacturers to revise their labeling and provide more specific information about the potential heart attack and gastrointestinal risks of their individual products. The drug side effects Vioxx caused pointed to similar dangers in the over-the-counter nonselective NSAIDs, which until recently, most people viewed as benign.

In other words, the Vioxx side effects were not just limited to Vioxx, but to other NSAIDs, as well. In addition to the non-prescription NSAID warning, the FDA recently issued a warning regarding Celebrex, a close relative of Vioxx, citing the same drug side effects Vioxx was reported to have. Pfizer also removed another of its arthritis medicines Bextra from shelves. So, do NSAIDs like Vioxx have side effects? The answer is a resounding yes.

Do Vioxx users have other options to help ease their pain and inflammation? Yes, other options do exist. Fortunately, reputable vitamin and supplement manufacturers offer a host of natural anti-inflammatory drugs such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and an organic sulfur compound called MSM. Pain sufferers can avoid the drug side effects Vioxx has by taking natural supplements. Instead of tricking the body into not receiving pain signals, these supplements go straight to the cause of the disease by strengthening and rebuilding connective tissue.

Featured Vioxx Alternative

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Please be sure to consult your physician or other qualified medical professional before taking any arthritis treatment to avoid Vioxx side effects or treat arthritis pain naturally.