| A word about Arthritis Drugs. In a word, if at all | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (excluding aspirin). |
| possible, don't take them! The most common | | | | FDA has requested that the package insert for all |
| painkillers are the anti-inflammatories, Ibuprofen and | | | | NSAIDs, including Celebrex, be revised to include a |
| Diclofenac. Some are prescribed by qualified medical | | | | boxed warning to highlight the potential increased risk |
| practitioners and some are even available over the | | | | of CV events and the well described risk of serious, |
| counter. Codeine, which is also commonly prescribed, | | | | and potentially life-threatening, gastrointestinal |
| is a narcotic and is therefore addictive and can cause | | | | bleeding. FDA has also requested that the package |
| drowsiness and constipation. | | | | insert for all NSAIDs be revised to include a |
| I don't want to be alarmist but I feel I must warn | | | | contraindication for use in patients immediately |
| you about the risk of serious side effects from | | | | post-operative from coronary artery bypass (CABG) |
| these drugs, which are more common than you may | | | | surgery. FDA Alert 4/7/2005." |
| think. In certain circumstances, you may be ten times | | | | Many elderly sufferers from arthritis, gout and other |
| more at risk of a heart attack from taking these | | | | painful joint conditions, also have problems with heart |
| drugs. | | | | disease or hypertension (high blood pressure). This |
| There is a wealth of reliable evidence, from | | | | group of patients is potentially at much greater risk |
| authoritative agencies, such as The Arthritis Research | | | | of heart attacks and strokes, compared to the rest |
| Campaign, The US Food and Drug Agency and The | | | | of the population. |
| British Medical Association, all supported by proven | | | | Even people without these symptoms are at twice |
| statistics. | | | | the risk of heart failure, if they are heavy users of |
| Whilst the side effects from moderate, infrequent | | | | these anti-inflammatory drugs, as reported by BBC |
| use are normally not significant, prolonged use, by | | | | News. |
| certain sectors of the public can be so serious as to | | | | "NSAIDs aside from aspirin are associated with a |
| be life-threatening. | | | | doubled risk of symptomatic heart failure in patients |
| These anti-inflammatory drugs are known as | | | | without a history of cardiac disease. In patients with |
| NSAIDS, which is an abbreviation of non-steroidal anti | | | | such a history, however, use of NSAIDs (aside from |
| inflammatory drugs. There are various possible minor | | | | low-dose aspirin) was associated with more than |
| side effects but the real dangers are of stomach | | | | 10-fold increase in heart failure. If this link is found to |
| ulcers, intestinal bleeding, heart attacks and strokes. | | | | be causal, NSAIDs are estimated to be responsible |
| The risk of these is much increased if you are elderly | | | | for up to 20 percent of hospital admissions for |
| or if you have been taking these drugs over a | | | | congestive heart failure." |
| prolonged period and especially if you already have | | | | Considering all these facts, there is a strong case for |
| heart problems or high blood pressure. | | | | arthritis sufferers to find alternative remedies to stop |
| This is an extract from the website of the US Food | | | | the pain of arthritis. There are many possible |
| and Drug Agency: | | | | treatments, often from common household |
| "Based on the currently available data, FDA (The US | | | | ingredients, which are claimed to give significant relief, |
| Food and Drugs Administration) has concluded that an | | | | without the dangerous side effects of these |
| increased risk of serious adverse cardiovascular | | | | prescription and over-the-counter drugs. |
| events appears to be a class effect of non-steroidal | | | | |