A
study showed the popular arthritis drug Vioxx might place those who take it at
risk of developing congestive heart failure.
According
to research, patients who were prescribed Vioxx increased their chances of
being treated for heart failure by 80 percent. Some of the other problems
associated with anti-inflammatory drugs include higher risks of heart attacks
and kidney damage.
Based
on these findings, doctors were cautioned to closely monitor patient’s blood
pressure because of the likelihood that it could initiate heart failure.
Doctors
stated that patients with healthy hearts didn’t need to worry about the drugs
because it was discovered that the drugs weren’t harmful to those who had
normal hearts to begin with.
Vioxx
Study
·
Participants of the study included 45,000 elderly people
living in
·
One of the groups took Vioxx, Celebrex or some other type of
pain reliever.
·
The other group didn’t take any drugs.
·
Both groups were observed for one year.
Results
of the Study
·
The group that took Vioxx had an 80 percent increased
tendency for developing heart failure.
·
The group that took pain relievers such as ibuprofen showed
a 40 percent increased risk of heart failure.
·
Celebrex was the only pain reliever that showed results
similar to those who didn’t take any drugs.
Vioxx
and Celebrex, both medications that require a prescription, work by inhibiting
the chemical that triggers pain and inflammation in the joints.
In
October 1999, Vioxx was approved for sale in
Even
though the risks haven’t been proven as definite, experts stated that due to
the high number of people who are on some form of arthritis medication that it
should be taken with caution.
May 28, 2004