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Recall of Vioxx and Bextra leaves patients
confused
Nexium in combination with painkillers is an option
| People with arthritis remain concerned and confused over the side-effects of their medication following the
furor over COX-2 selective NSAIDs that include drugs like
Vioxx, Bextra, and Celebrex, according to the results of a European survey. The European Arthritis Patient (E-A-P) Survey was conducted to investigate the level of awareness of side-effects of arthritis or rheumatism treatments amongst patients in Europe. Similar surveys in the United States also show that people are very skeptical of Cox-2 drugs and are actively seeking other options for pain relief.
(Related article: Risks
of COX-2 drugs) |
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 Since the withdrawal of popular COX-2 selective NSAID used to treat arthritis,
Vioxx (rofecoxib), and the
suspension of Bextra (valdecoxib), after studies linked them to increased cardiovascular risk in long-term use, many patients now face a serious dilemma over alternative treatment options to manage their arthritis. All
NSAIDs – which include
aspirin and
ibuprofen – carry a risk of upper gastrointestinal (GI) side-effects. For example, each year in the UK NSAIDs cause approximately 3,500
hospitalizations for, and 400 deaths from, ulcer bleeding in patients aged 60 years and above.
Despite the well-publicized risks, more than 45 per cent of those questioned said they had received little or no support on managing the side-effects of their treatment from their doctor. More than one in six people with arthritis (17.8 per cent) were still unaware of potential drug side-effects. The survey findings support work by professional
organizations who are calling for improved guidance on arthritis treatments, to help doctors address patient concerns. (Related:
How to lower back pain)
Professor Greg Rubin, Chairman of the European Society for Primary Care Gastroenterology (ESPCG) and Professor of Primary Care at the
University of
Sunderland, UK, said: “These results reflect the fact that it is not only patients who are confused over the side-effects of non-selective and COX-2 selective NSAIDs – doctors have also received a huge amount of conflicting information on the drugs. This means that GPs face the serious task of
counseling people with arthritis on the different treatment options, without themselves feeling totally confident of the best course of action. With this in mind, we have already begun formulating some sort of guidance to help GPs through this difficult time.”
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