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BS: Obit - VIOXX
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Subject: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: SINSULL Date: 04 Oct 04 - 07:34 PM Two knee injuries in three years have made me semi-dependent on VIOXX for relief. Nothing else relieves the inflammation for more than an hour or two. Sleepless nights, painful days. But, now that it has been identified as the culprit in multiple strokes and heart attack deaths, I have stopped taking it. Any suggestions short of amputation? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 04 Oct 04 - 07:37 PM This should be BS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: michaelr Date: 04 Oct 04 - 07:54 PM I'm sure Sinsull doesn't think so! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: Robin2 Date: 04 Oct 04 - 07:55 PM All I know is I was on the drug two weeks for a shoulder problem when I had a massive stroke. I was 48... I'd say not worth the risk. Is there any other drug your doc could try? Robin2 |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: SINSULL Date: 04 Oct 04 - 08:14 PM Dave - I requested it be put under BS. My mistake originally. I SEE MY DOCTOR ON fRIDAY. wE'LL SEE. bETTER SOME PAIN THAN A HEART ATTACK.Damn Capslock! Robin, How long ago was that? There seems to be a class action suit in the works. Small comfort but maybe some help with the bills. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 04 Oct 04 - 08:18 PM My doctor recently gave me a sample 5 pack when I put out my back/neck due to not stop coughing (and previous spinal damage) when I got a persistent recent bout of flu - magic stuff, cured the problem in 3 days so well that I was thinking of asking him for a script for the stuff for the regular hassles I have. Much better than Fenac and much easier on the stomach/duodenum, but I had heard of these side effects ... Robin |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: Robin2 Date: 04 Oct 04 - 09:19 PM Thanks for asking.. it's been 2 years this Nov. Hubby and I have discussed the law suit... problem is it was just sample packs, no RX written, and I did have an artery blockage that the docs say caused the stroke. Now if the drug may have have caused the stroke to happen sooner????? who knows. I know it helped you with your pain, but I hope your Doc can find a safer alternative for you. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 04 Oct 04 - 09:28 PM I've been on the Fenac variants since about 1976. :-) Robin |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: Jeri Date: 04 Oct 04 - 09:55 PM Robin, the sample packs were still given out by the drug company (Merck?) and intended for people to take. If there's a record of your doctor giving the samples to you, you've probaby got all the proof you need on that end. Lots of people have partially blocked arteries who don't have strokes, and your doctors decided that was the cause before any of this information on Vioxx came out. If they HAD known, I doubt they would have given it to you. You can always get in touch with a lawyer and ask if you meet the criteria for inclusion in the suit. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: Stilly River Sage Date: 04 Oct 04 - 11:01 PM The risk increases greatly with steady use, after a period of 18 months. That might be the disqualifier right there. I am interested in what alternatives might be out there. I have a friend who is crippled by arthritis without the Vioxx. He's also on a limited income (self-employed, so no health insurance). I'd like to be able to report back what others are finding helps (and how do the costs compare?) SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: EBarnacle Date: 05 Oct 04 - 10:43 AM I have been on Vioxx for 5 years, due to severe arthritic pain in my hips and knees. My doctor will be switching me to another med but Vioxx has been the first NSAID that did not irritate my stomach to the point of ulcers. I shall keep my fingers crossed and switch to what my doctor recommends. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: PoppaGator Date: 05 Oct 04 - 03:26 PM I have arthritis in my fingers, bad enough to have completely stopped me from playing guitar for several years. I took Vioxx for about a year, up to about two years ago. It was never prescribed for me nor given to me as samples by a doctor -- my wife's doctor gave her plenty of samples for back pain, enough for the two of us to share. I quit Vioxx when I tried liquid glucosamine, which is not pain medication but instead somehow rejuvenates/loosens stiffness in the joints. It is not a prescription drug (or even, technically, a "drug" at all), but a nutritional supplement. It works very well for my particular ailment and, in fact, has restored enough flexibility to my aging knuckles to allow me to resume playing my instrument, pretty much pain-free. The liquid glucosamine product seems to work much more quickly and thoroughly than the solid form (glucosamine pills or powder). It generally comes mixed with another supplement -- "chondroitin," maybe? -- which is made from shark cartilidge. If you do a Google search on "liquid glucosamine," you'll find one or two sites selling a product called "Syn-Flex" via mail order. I can recommend it highly; however, I've since found large bottles of the same stuff, without the same brand name, at a much lower price at Sam's Warehouse (a Wal-Mart affiliate). Oh, yeah. by the way -- my wife eventually switched from Vioxx to glucosamine, just as I did. Her arthritis is in a different area (back vs fingers), but her results were similar. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: catspaw49 Date: 05 Oct 04 - 04:09 PM Sweet Jumpin' Jesus Uncle Dave.......Are your shorts too tight or something? Constipated? Bad case of Jock-Itch? This thread had been up all of THREE MINUTES and you request it go to BS!!!! Even the most conscientious JoeClone would not even have seen it in that time!!!
And.....SO WHAT??? It can't stay in the wrong category for a few hours or even...GOD FOBID.....A DAY. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: PoppaGator Date: 05 Oct 04 - 07:09 PM Well, it's not about music, so the BS designation seems perfectly appropriate to me. (Even though medication like Vioxx can affect the ability to *play* music for arthritic old codgers such as myself.) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: Shanghaiceltic Date: 05 Oct 04 - 11:00 PM I see an acupuncturist for pain relief from a back neck injury. It wont cure the injury but it does help with easing the pain and making my neck more mobile. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: MAG Date: 06 Oct 04 - 12:30 AM I am facing life without Vioxx and I don't know what will happen. My quality of life went up dramatically when I started taking it. Acupuncture didn't do nearly enough to justify the high cost. Gel shots helped some and I guess I'll go back to them, although they only helped my knees where I got them, not the hips/shoulders/hands. chiropractic helps some. ( a good one helps.) My doc will not prescribe any of the COX-2 drugs, and put me on a high dose of ibuprofen although it has never helped before. Fortunately she has had me take aspirin throughout, and the COX-1 inhibitor supposedly has been protecting me. I will have to make time to use the hot tub and warm pool at the Y, although the strong chemicals (and who knows what else) irritate my skin. I'm taking this one day at a time. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: JennyO Date: 06 Oct 04 - 10:09 AM A friend of mine swears by Celebrex, helped by a puff or two of "The hash my father scored" :-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: Michael Date: 06 Oct 04 - 02:19 PM Pfizer (manufacturers of Celebrex another COX-2 inhibitor) say they 'are confident of the cardiovascular properties of their product'. So we can all change to that without any qualms. Mike |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: PoppaGator Date: 06 Oct 04 - 03:08 PM MAG and others, please consider giving glucosamine a try (for about $30 per one-month's supply bottle). It may or may not adequately address your problem, and it will always require 3-4 weeks of daily dosages before yielding results, but you might find better and more complete relief -- reversal of symptoms, actually -- than Vioxx or any other painkiller ever gave you. Not all doctors will endorse it, since it is not a drug and not promoted by the drug-company reps who spend their days and nights (and ridiculous sums of money) treating doctors and nurses to lavish lunches and dinners. It's a "supplement," endorsed only by health-food-store nuts and satisfied customers. All I can say is: "Works for me!" |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: Robin2 Date: 06 Oct 04 - 07:07 PM I second PoppaGator on glucosamine for help with joints! Mine was actually recomended by my doc after my stroke due to alot of arthritis in my knees (this showed up in rehab) I had to take it for about a month before I noticed improvement. My pain level is WAY down, and my joints are much more limber now. Robin2 |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: GUEST,Donuel Date: 06 Oct 04 - 07:15 PM I gave glowing testimonials of Bextra on this forum. I have discontinued its use. Glucosamine Hcl is my option since I am allergic to the sulfa version. There is also a pain reliever 'XXXXXXX' that has the peculiar effect of providing energy, ambition and an affability without a trace of nerves or jitters. It is so good that I would not want its popularity to jeopardize its current ubiquitous availability. Side effects include weight loss, vitality, strength and a pleasant physical inertia. Although I tried up to 3 a day I found 1 every couple days sufficiant to keep active. But then again I am the guy who recommended a Cox2 inhibitor. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: jimmyt Date: 07 Oct 04 - 09:07 AM Just a thought. I take Volterin from time to time when my back is giving me disc problems, and my wife uses it for arthritis. It is an older drug (a few years ago it was the rising star in the ANsiad class) so it is pretty cheap. My doctor is my best friend and he has given us Vioxx, Celebrex, as well as several other ones and VOlterin is the best antiinflammatory we have ever used. However, these things tend to be an individual sort of thing and maybe not help you at all. WOrth a try though. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 07 Oct 04 - 09:58 AM Voltaren gives me stomach hassles. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: GUEST,Donuel Date: 07 Oct 04 - 11:06 PM Another arthritis drug is now reported on CNN tonight to cause lymphoma. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: Michael Date: 08 Oct 04 - 03:56 PM Voltaren/Voltarol is diclofenac sodium and can cause stomach irritation - COX 2 inhibitors (Vioxx, celebrex etc.) are supposed not to. I have been using Glucosamine for about 5/6 years and would not want to stop, I gave up Vioxx last Thursday. Mike |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: radriano Date: 08 Oct 04 - 04:16 PM I've been taking VIOXX for the about five years. Although news reports I've heard say that VIOXX isn't any more effective than over the counter medication like ibuprofen I know from experience that that is not true. When I asked my orthopedic surgeon about a stronger medication he had me try CELEBREX first and that made me feel like I was about to have a heart attack. I tried VIOXX next and have been on it ever since. I've temporarily gone back to ibuprofen but it's a sorry substitute. Besides that, ibuprofen products have a warning on the label that says constant use can cause stomach bleeding. I could take VIOXX without water or food and it never bothered my stomach. Well, it's back to my doctor. I'll post further to this thread if I find a good medication. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: MAG Date: 08 Oct 04 - 08:44 PM I agree that ibuprofen is a sorry substitute, and that's all my doc will give now. I have taken glucosamine supplements for a long time. I don't know if they do any good or not, but I'm not about to stop now. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: Mickey191 Date: 09 Oct 04 - 02:37 AM Sudden,new case of arthritis in knees. Terrible pain. Was put on Celebrex for a week & was not helping the pain & was causing edema. WEnt to orthopedist who gave cortizone-no help. Was then advised to try a regime of 5 injections in each knee, the product being ground up, synthasized Rooster's combs. Think it's called Hyaline something. It is a viscous fluid which is supposed to take the place of the non existing cartilage. Waited one month to evaluate.Absolutely NO help at all.I was housebound. This past Thursday I went in for evaluation. The exray showed no change. Dr. said, "You don't want an operation-we then discussed Vioxx going off the market-Said he had something else-"Bextra" I questioned him closely-said the chances of side effects are minimal. I named 3 reasons why I should not use this drug-He said--okay Go home & stay in the house.This will help you.I was at the end of my rope. Took the samples home-have taken TWO & I'm feeling much better. I can't believe it-I went shopping tonight after only 2 pills. I went to 2 stores-Have not been able to do that since June. Donuel, Why did you quit taking BEXTRA? I may not have to kill myself afterall!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: SINSULL Date: 09 Oct 04 - 09:24 PM Mickey - try a lymphatic massage. It helps relieve the edema. Initially, you will feel tired because it is forcing your system to work overtime on removing toxins. I too stopped VIOXX. Massage plus heat pads and ibuprofen are making a huge difference. After this scare, I hesitate to take any drugs. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: Mickey191 Date: 09 Oct 04 - 11:55 PM Sinsull, thanks for the advice. I have to say that Today I had NO pain. Third bextra pill taken & I could do all my chores without any trouble. I realize I may be flirting with danger-but I've had no life since June. I asked Dr. if "I could spring a leak" when I spoke of the stomach bleeding side effect. He said no-I would not suddenly bleed to death. There would be tarry BMs. That would be the warning to stop. Isn't this fun??? Folks, if you can put one foot in front of the other without thought--you're damn lucky! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: MAG Date: 10 Oct 04 - 01:02 AM I had those gel shots a couple of times after the useless "minor" knee surgery. Starting with the second shot, I have to say they did some good. My shot guy was in to my place of employment yesterday and I told him he would be seeing me. He said I was not alone. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: maire-aine Date: 10 Oct 04 - 01:49 PM Sure gettin' old is hell, ain't it? My knees have been killing me most of the summer. Has anybody learned of any reason why a person SHOULDN'T take glucosamine? I'd like to know. You can PM me if you want. Thanks, Maryanne |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: MAG Date: 10 Oct 04 - 11:02 PM Most glucosamine is shellfish derived. I take the Trader Joe's brand, which does not have a shellfish warning on the label. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: PoppaGator Date: 10 Oct 04 - 11:31 PM I wasn't aware of the shellfish-allergy aspect of glucosamine; fortunately, that's a problem I *don't have. All I can talk about is what workd for me. Anyone who is currently taking glucosamine without getting ideal results: if you're currently taking it in solid form (pills or powder, even powder mixed with water), you might find that the liquid form will work better. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: Susan of DT Date: 11 Oct 04 - 10:31 AM The report I saw on Vioxx said that Celebrex and Bextra had not been tested for stroke/heart attack effects, so we have no reason to think these highly related drugs are safer. The Vioxx trials were not looking for that either, but they noticed it and withdrew the drug. I have arthritic knees that seem to have different problems. Celebrex worked for my right knee, but neither Celebrex nor Bextra did anything noticable for my left knee, but Vioxx did. One Cortisone shot also did good things before I tried Vioxx. Back to Ibuprofen and Chondroitin/Glucosamine, with the shot as a backup if things get bad again. And maybe if I lose 50 pounds .... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: GUEST,Donuel Date: 11 Oct 04 - 11:46 AM Bextra worked very well but I don't like the heart attack and stroke odds. I don't know why my right elbow completely healed but the left has not. But I can still use it to play and it is better than it was. I am taking the liquid glucosamine Hcl, Centrum silver and ...... I feel pretty darn good and my ear problem is almost all gone. The ....... gives me tons of energy and 20lbs of weight loss with just one a day. I often go days without it and have not felt any habit forming effects whatsoever but everyone is different. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: GUEST,sadie@dragg.net Date: 04 Nov 04 - 03:59 PM I took vioxx for about 2 yrs. I had a heart attack on aug 8 of 2004 the doctor always gave me samples . I took vioxx for menstrual cramps.If he has it in my records would that be enough. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: radriano Date: 04 Nov 04 - 04:20 PM Well, I just tried Bextra and it made me woosy all day. Can't use it. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: SINSULL Date: 04 Nov 04 - 06:28 PM Woosy appeals to me. Maybe I will get a sample. Thanks. M. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: MAG Date: 04 Nov 04 - 08:44 PM My doc gave me some celebrex samples which I am now trying. Given the difference in quallity of life these drugs make, I am willing to risk it if this works as well as vioxx. |AND I get more exercise if I don't hurt ... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: maire-aine Date: 05 Nov 04 - 06:05 PM I've been taking glucosamine & chondroitin (liquid) for almost a month now, and my knees are feeling a whole lot better. There may be other factors (like not going up and down stairs quite as much) but i haven't had to take any pain pills for several days now. for what it's worth.... Maryanne |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: GUEST,Boab_d Date: 05 Nov 04 - 08:05 PM How goes it, Well unfortunately the heart attack and all thencardiac stuff wins for me so for NSAIDS either diclofenac 50mg tds with food or Ibuprofen 400mg tds with food are two of the other contenders for the replacement of the affore said NSIAD. The best you can do in my opinion is a good dose of whisky (malt only)and some gemtle mind over matter it wil work in a wee while but must work harder Dylan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: Tansy Date: 05 Nov 04 - 08:18 PM Hmmmmm...what about Daypro? back when they were shoving precscription NSAIDs in my general direction...Daypro and Vioxx were considered virtually interchangeable. Then there's alway Ultram which acts more like an Opiate...only thing is...it can increase the liklihood of seizures for some people AND...nowayds Docs consider it just as habit forming as an opiate. Hvaing taken Utlram AND having been on serious opiates like MS COntin in the past..I say Ultram is nowhere near as habit-forming. Also..I never had to worry about withdrawal with ultram.(Tramadol HCL) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Obit - VIOXX From: GUEST,flexible joints Date: 04 Feb 05 - 09:59 AM Just stumbled across this thread and thought I'd share information on my Vioxx replacement. I stopped taking Vioxx a month before it was taken off the market. It was damaging my respiratory system and I was looking for a replacement. Celebrex and Bextra were not options. I finally discovered Zyflamend by New Chapter. It's an herbal supplement available at health food stores. The chief ingredient is turmeric, which has great anti-inflammatory properties. I also take ginger, another anti-inflammatory, as well as glucosamine and MSM. I understand that some people have good results from sam-E and/or evening primrose oil. I'm doing much better now than I was on Vioxx. |
