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Scientists Spot How Cox-2 Painkillers Raise Heart Risks

Posted 2 May 2012 by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, May 2 – New research has uncovered how some cox-2 painkillers increase the risk for both heart attacks and stroke. The once popular cox-2 drugs, Vioxx and Bextra, were pulled off the market in 2004 and 2005, respectively, after research showed that both raised the chances of cardiovascular trouble. Meanwhile, Celebrex, a painkiller in the same drug class that remains on the market, carries a "black box" warning alerting patients to potential heart risks. Now, a team of scientists from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia say that, although cox-2 inhibitors are very good at inhibiting the workings of the cox-2 enzyme – and thereby easing pain – they also throw off the cardiovascular system's delicate balance by inhibiting an enzyme that relaxes blood vessels and guards against clotting. "It's really about a rock and a hard place," said Dr. Christopher Cannon, a ... Read more

Related support groups: Celebrex, Vioxx, Celecoxib, Valdecoxib, Bextra, Rofecoxib

Some Pain Meds Riskier for Cardiac Patients Than Others, Study Suggests

Posted 28 Sep 2011 by Drugs.com

From Canadian Press DataFile (September 27, 2011) By Helen Branswell TORONTO – A new study suggests some commonly consumed pain medications are riskier than others when used by people with cardiovascular problems. The research suggests a couple of the drugs carry the same level of risk as Vioxx, which was taken off the market in 2004 over heart health concerns. Senior author Dr. David Henry says the increased risk from this class of drugs is not significant for the average healthy individual taking the drugs occasionally. But he says the risk profile changes in people who have already had a heart attack or who are at risk of cardiovascular events because they have diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of heart disease. "So we're really worried about people who might have an annual risk of maybe five per cent," said Henry, who is CEO of the Toronto-based Institute for ... Read more

Related support groups: Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Celebrex, Voltaren, Meloxicam, Advil, Diclofenac, Mobic, Aleve, Motrin, Indomethacin, Toradol, Etodolac, Flector

Painkillers May Raise Risk of Dangerous Heart Flutter

Posted 5 Jul 2011 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, July 5 – A new study finds that painkillers widely used to treat inflammation are associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder connected with a raised risk of stroke, heart failure and death. Previous research has linked non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and newer anti-inflammatory medications known as cox-2 inhibitors to an increased risk for heart attacks and strokes, but this is the first study to link the painkillers with atrial fibrillation. Danish researchers looked at 32,602 patients who had a first diagnosis of atrial fibrillation between 1999 and 2008. Each of those patients was compared with 10 age and gender-matched controls from the general population in Denmark. The results showed that use of these medications was associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. The link was strongest among new users of ... Read more

Certain Painkillers Appear to Boost Odds for Heart Attack

Posted 11 Jan 2011 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Jan. 11 – Common painkillers taken to treat inflammation, such as Celebrex and Advil, can raise the risk of heart attack, stroke or death, a review of existing research suggests. Swiss researchers analyzed the results of 31 trials involving seven non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as these medications are called, and concluded that cardiovascular risk needs to be considered before prescribing any of them. "NSAIDs are widely used worldwide for treating pain and inflammation," said Dr. Gregg Fonarow, American Heart Association spokesman and professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles. "A number of studies have shown that many of these agents are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events, particularly when used at higher doses and for longer periods of time, but uncertainty remains as to the magnitude of the risk and how the ... Read more

Celebrex Shows Potential in Preventing Some Skin Cancers: Study

Posted 30 Nov 2010 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Nov. 29 – The prescription painkiller Celebrex might help prevent non-melanoma skin cancers, a small study suggests. But one expert was quick to note that the drug, which is most commonly used to counter the pain of arthritis, has been linked in some studies to an increase in the risk for cardiovascular problems. So it isn't yet clear that Celebrex (celecoxib) is an ideal choice to prevent cancers that could be treated by other means. "We have a lot of different treatments for non-melanoma skin cancers," noted Dr. Doris Day, a dermatologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "I would want more information regarding the mechanism of action of Celebrex, because of the other risks," she said. The report, funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute and Pfizer, the maker of Celebrex, is published in the Nov. 29 online edition and the Dec. 15 print issue of the Journal of the ... Read more

Related support groups: Celebrex, Skin Cancer, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Vigilance Against Skin Cancer May Lead to Lack of Vitamin D

Posted 18 Oct 2010 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Oct. 18 – People with a genetic predisposition to basal cell carcinoma – the most common form of skin cancer – may trade one health risk for another, a new study suggests. Because people with basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS) tend to develop multiple basal cell skin cancers in early adulthood and so take more precautions against sun exposure, they may also run a higher risk of being deficient in vitamin D, report researchers in the October issue of Archives of Dermatology. "We found that patients with skin cancer who practice very good photoprotection [sun protection] have lower vitamin D levels," said Dr. Jean Tang, lead author of the study. "This makes sense because they're avoiding sunlight and sun is required to synthesize vitamin D." But having healthy levels of the nutrient may be necessary to protect against cancer, broken bones, heart disease and even some autoimmune ... Read more

Celebrex Appears Easier on Stomach for Arthritis Patients

Posted 17 Jun 2010 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, June 17 – Patients who take the painkiller celecoxib for arthritis pain and inflammation are less likely to suffer gastrointestinal damage than those who take diclofenac plus omeprazole, a new study finds. Celecoxib (Celebrex) is a cox-2 selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), diclofenac (Voltaren) is a non-selective NSAID and omeprazole (Prilosec) is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). The study included 4,484 patients in 32 countries or territories who were randomly selected to receive either 200 milligrams (mg) of celecoxib twice a day (2,238 patients) or 75 mg of diclofenac slow-release plus 20 mg of omeprazole (2,246 patients) once a day. Patients taking diclofenac plus omeprazole were more than four times more likely to suffer upper or lower gastrointestinal damage than celecoxib patients – 3.8 percent versus 0.9 percent, respectively. The findings, which ... Read more

Related support groups: Osteoarthritis, Celebrex, Celecoxib

Celebrex Might Thwart Inherited Skin Cancers

Posted 8 Jan 2010 by Drugs.com

FRIDAY, Jan. 8 – People with an inherited skin disorder could reduce their risk of developing skin cancer by taking the painkiller celecoxib (Celebrex), a preliminary study suggests. The research has only reached the second of three phases, however, and the drug is not yet officially approved for this use. The condition, known as Gorlin syndrome, causes people to develop hundreds or even thousands of cancerous lesions known as basal cell carcinomas. According to one of the researchers, the goal is to find a way to prevent cancer in everyone. "The underlying idea is if we can find something in these high-risk patients that could be translatable to the 'normal' population, then we could ultimately use that form of chemoprevention to reduce the numbers of skin cancer in all people," Dr. Ervin H. Epstein Jr., senior scientist at the Children's Hospital of Oakland Research Institute in ... Read more

Related support groups: Celebrex

Study Calls for Greater Scrutiny of 'Off-Label' Drug Use

Posted 24 Nov 2008 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Nov. 24 – It's called "off-label" prescribing, and it's the common practice of doctors prescribing a drug to treat a disease or condition that's different from the one studied by federal regulators that led to the drug's approval in the first place. Despite the scope of the practice, there's often little evidence that using a drug for an unapproved purpose is always beneficial or safe, a new study found. The study by American researchers has identified 14 widely prescribed medications that they think need additional study to see how effective and safe they are for off-label use. Many of the drugs are antidepressants and antipsychotics. "Off-label prescribing is not based on the same level of evidence as on-label prescribing," said study lead researcher Surrey Walton, an assistant professor of pharmacy administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Most patients aren't ... Read more

Related support groups: Lexapro, Zoloft, Cymbalta, Wellbutrin, Seroquel, Coumadin, Celebrex, Singulair, Zyprexa, Risperdal, Zestril, Epogen, Procrit, Prinivil, Desyrel

NSAIDs Might Lower Breast Cancer Risk

Posted 9 Oct 2008 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, Oct. 9 – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are associated with a reduced risk for breast cancer, a new review suggests. But the findings aren't an invitation for all women to start popping the popular painkillers, the researchers added. "We don't want that to happen here, for people to jump on the bandwagon and start taking aspirin or ibuprofen," said study senior author Mahyar Etminan, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia. "A lot of people are taking these drugs for aches and pains, and aspirin to prevent cardiac events. Those people may actually get an added benefit, but, for someone relatively healthy, we don't recommend starting to [reduce breast cancer risk] as of yet." "From a practitioner's standpoint, it's kind of reassuring to patients if they do take NSAIDs for whatever reason," added Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of ... Read more

Related support groups: Celebrex, Advil, Acetylsalicylic Acid, Aflaxen

FDA Medwatch Alert: COX-2 Selective and Non-Selective Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Posted 15 Jun 2005 by Drugs.com

After concluding that the overall risk versus benefit profile is unfavorable, FDA has requested Pfizer, Inc. to voluntarily withdraw Bextra (valdecoxib) from the market. This request is based on: * The lack of adequate data on the cardiovascular safety of long-term use of Bextra, along with the increased risk of adverse cardiovascular (CV) events in short-term coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) trials that FDA believes may be relevant to chronic use. * Reports of serious and potentially life-threatening skin reactions, including deaths, in patients using Bextra. The risk of these reactions in individual patients is unpredictable, occurring in patients with and without a prior history of sulfa allergy, and after both short- and long-term use. * Lack of any demonstrated advantages for Bextra compared with other NSAIDs. Patients currently taking Bextra should contact their physicians to ... Read more

Related support groups: Celebrex, Advil, Mobic, Toradol, Relafen, Vioxx, Lodine, Feldene, Cataflam, Indocin, Daypro, Ponstel, Ansaid, Actron, Nalfon

FDA Medwatch Alert: Celebrex (celecoxib)

Posted 15 Jun 2005 by Drugs.com

FDA has requested that sponsors of all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) make labeling changes to their products. FDA recommended proposed labeling for both the prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs and a medication guide for the entire class of prescription products. All sponsors of marketed prescription NSAIDs, including Celebrex (celecoxib), a COX-2 selective NSAID, have been asked to revise the labeling (package insert) for their products to include a boxed warning, highlighting the potential for increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events and the well described, serious, potential life-threatening gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding associated with their use. FDA regulation 21CFR 208 requires a Medication Guide to be provided with each prescription that is dispensed for products that FDA determines pose a serious and significant public health concern. [June 15, ... Read more

Related support groups: Celebrex

FDA Medwatch Alert: Celebrex (celecoxib)

Posted 7 Apr 2005 by Drugs.com

Related support groups: Celebrex

FDA Medwatch Alert: Celebrex (celecoxib)

Posted 21 Dec 2004 by Drugs.com

FDA notified healthcare professionals that, based on emerging information, including preliminary reports from one of several long term National Institutes of Health (NIH) prevention studies, the risk of cardiovascular events may be increased in patients receiving Celebrex. FDA is analyzing all available information from these studies to determine whether additional regulatory action is needed.[December 17, 2004 - Drug Information Page - FDA] Read more

Related support groups: Celebrex

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