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If
you watch television or read magazines, I am sure that you have become aware of
the tragic news that Vioxx has been pulled from the pharmacies by Merck, the
manufacturer of Vioxx . Vioxx is reported to cause heart ailments and sudden
death as well as hospitalization of untold victims of the drug. At first, the
drug industry was very excited about Vioxx and Celebrex, both of which were
designed to treat the various forms of arthritis by inhibiting a pro-inflammatory
enzyme know as cyclooxhease-2 (COX-2), while not interfering the COX-1 enzyme,
which is responsible for supporting the production of the protective coating found
in the gastrointestinal tract. Since gastric bleeding (related to over-use of
prescription and OTC anti-inflammatory drugs) is responsible for approximately 20,000
deaths and over 2 million hospitalizations each year, you can begin to see the
importance of being very specific in which enzyme is inhibited.
Now, in addition to the 20,000 deaths from gastric bleeding, the FDA reported over 100,000 deaths from heart attacks and stroke from the drug Vioxx. Celebrex and Aleve have been cited also.
Tragically, these victims had no way of protecting themselves. Nearly all drugs have side effects and it seems safer to take a natural formula than risk death, stroke or even hospitalization.