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drug_recall bextraIn the late 1990s, popular COX-2 drugs like Vioxx and Celebrex were highly publicized for its ability to protect the stomach while helping with inflammation. In that time, traditional over the counter anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen could help with inflammation but was associated to stomach effects such as bleeding ulcers. The ability to block just COX-2, what releases "bad" prostaglandins and allow the COX-1 to remain, the "good" prostaglandins that protect the stomach was hailed as a breakthrough. More Cox-2 drugs emerged to the market, including Bextra in 2001, promising the same painkilling benefits without the risks of serious stomach ulcer.
Bextra is currently the fastest growing COX-2 inhibitor and is intended to treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients with the once-daily medication. Although an immediate hit, all COX-2 inhibitors, including Bextra, have been suffering slowed growth as a whole and has found itself amongst controversy instead.
According to the largest COX-2 study to date, COX-2 inhibitors like Bextra may not be as safe as initially believed. The new study, expected to appear in the British journal The Lancet towards the start of September 2004, is among the largest studies to date that examines the safety of COX-2 inhibitors. The clinical study was performed by Novartis and included big selling drugs like Bextra, Celebrex and Vioxx compared to its own experimental COX-2 drug.
The most concerning and potentially harmful effects of Bextra are the hints that an increased risk of heart attacks can occur with its use, as well as with other COX-2 inhibitors. While some experts are skeptical that the study will do little to help end the heart attack controversy, others acknowledge the importance of it. In order to properly determine if a cardiovascular risk exists when using Bextra and other COX-2 inhibitors, some experts believe researchers will need to perform further studies specifically on arthritis patients who already have coronary heart disease or at high risk of developing it.
As the safety of COX-2 inhibitors is being questioned, the approval of new COX-2 drugs has been delayed. The great hopes for a class of drugs to eliminate serious side effects was believed to have come with Bextra and other COX-2 drugs, however, more specific studies will need to determine a more conclusive position. Though benefits of Bextra and other COX-2 drugs do exist, there are several factors that must be considered, including patients who take low-dose aspirin and high-risk patients. Before considering Bextra, or any other medication, all individual patients must bear in mind risk factors and pre-existing conditions alongside their medical doctor to determine the best drug treatment available for their specific needs.
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