Pfizer Profit Hurt by Bextra Charges
Reuters - Apr 19, 2005 earnings tumbled as the world's largest drugmaker took a number of charges, including costs related to the suspension of sales of its arthritis drug Bextra.

Drugs like Vioxx and Bextra get pulled from the shelves
Northern Star Online - Apr 26, 2005 pain. The dangerous and, in some cases, deadly drugs being prescribed to individuals with arthritis are called Vioxx and Bextra.

Cox-2 inhibitors to stay on market after patients' pleas
Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand - Apr 28, 2005 There were five non-government funded brands of Cox-2 drugs available in New Zealand; Celebrex, Arcoxia, Mobic, Dynastat and Bextra.

Messengers Share Pain of Loss
Los Angeles Times (subscription), CA - 13 hours ago In a ritual that is repeated almost daily, notification officers take on the solemn duty of informing families of war deaths. By

FBI field office chief says department feels pain of Red Lake
Kansas City Star, MO - 12 hours ago He hopes to be as proud of the Red Lake case, once it's completed. "We feel their pain, we have their best interests at heart, and we owe them a thorough

Patent news eases Martek's pain
Washington Business Journal, DC - 21 hours ago A day after tumbling more than 45 percent, stock in Columbia-based Martek Biosciences reversed course after winning a European patent.

Taking the pain out of the push
Jerusalem Post, Israel - 17 hours ago By Gilbert J. Grant. Enjoy Your Labor is the catchy title of a new book which sets out to explain the options of pain relief in labor.

Bextra: Arthritis sufferers see options limited
Uniontown Herald Standard, PA - Apr 23, 2005 Area arthritis sufferers will have to turn yet again to other drugs to ease their discomfort after the federal government pulled Bextra from store shelves

Alabama judge to rule on requests to postpone Vioxx trial
KATC, LA - 3 hours ago _ Motions to postpone the first trial of a wrongful death suit against Merck and Company over its painkiller Vioxx will be considered at a hearing Tuesday

There is mounting evidence to suggest that Celebrex (aka celecoxib) is linked to an increased risk of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes. Celebrex is one of the newer anti arthritic drugs called COX-2 inhibitors that were launched in the 1990s, and is marketed by Pharmacia Corporation and Pfizer Inc. The drug is prescribed for osteoarthritis, adult rheumatoid arthritis, and menstrual cramps. The FDA is currently taking independent advice on whether these COX-2 inhibitors, and Celebrex in particular, are safe to remain on sale. Current studies “strongly suggest” the COX-2 inhibitors increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, says Dr. Ned Braunstein, senior director of Merck Research Laboratories.

A related study from the Cleveland Clinic, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggested that the risk of cardiovascular problems (including but not limited to heart attacks, chest pains, stroke, death and blood clots), was over twice as high in the rofecoxib sample than in the control group - a significant find given that the analysis was based on more than 8,000 patients.
In yet another study of over 42,000 participants, 0.52% of patients taking a placebo pill had a heart attack each year compared to 0.74% for patients taking rofecoxib and 0.80% for those taking celecoxib. It’s big business too - the drug will do over $6 billion this year alone.

If you want to know whether you can file a claim against the makers of Celebrex, you need to ask yourself 3 questions. Firstly, did you take Celebrex? Most good lawyers (a full list can be found on www.lawyersbench.com) will also accept cases where you have been taking other COX-2 inhibitors, (e.g.Vioxx or Bextra). You need to be able to show when you started and stopped taking Celebrex, and the dosage you were prescribed.

The second question is did you take Celebrex regularly? Regular Celebrex use is said to be linked to a much higher risk of stroke, heart attack, and other serious injuries because you will have simply had more of the drug in your system.

The third question is did you suffer an injury while taking Celebrex or after taking it? If you suffered a heart attack, stroke, or other heart problem (requiring hospitalization or surgery), you may have an excellent chance of filing a successful claim. You need to be able to say what kind of injury you suffered (a stroke, heart attack, blood clots etc.), when the injury happened, and if you were on Celebrex at the time of the injury.

If you can answer all 3 questions successfully, you need a lawyer now.

About the Author
Jeff writes articles on issues of concern to the general public, and contributes to www.lawyersbench.com the free site for legal advice and tips.

Arthritis Pain Relief Beyond Vioxx® and Celebrex®

If you live long enough, chances are before your 50th birthday you are going to suffer from some sort of arthritic pain. In fact 80 percent of the population over the age of 50 suffer from some form of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis. Traditionally, individuals suffering arthritis pain have sought relief by turning to over-the-counter solutions such as aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Others have opted for the help of pharmaceuticals prescribed by their doctors, such as Vioxx® and Celebrex®. Unfortunately many of these prescription products have recently come under fire with serious questions of their safety. A lawsuit was recently filed against the manufacturer of Vioxx® after a government-led clinical trial that ended in December 2004 showed an increased risk of heart failure in patients taking regular doses of this pain relief prescription product. Obviously for those suffering through arthritic pain are left with some very scary decisions in deciding whether or not to use a prescription product. Are there safer alternatives available for arthritic pain sufferers?

Emerging Science in Natural Medicine and Pain Management

Over the past few years a great deal of research has been done in the nutraceutical arena in the area of pain management. One outstanding example is the new dietary supplement Nexrutine®. This a patent-pending plant extract developed from the phellodendron tree (Phellodendron amurense). This tree has been a rich source of traditional medicine in Asia for more than 1500 years. The proprietary Nexrutine® extract, developed by Next Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a unique anti-inflammatory for natural pain management.

Nexrutine® alleviates pain safely and effectively while easing joint and muscle soreness associated with physical activity. Nexrutine® not only eases pain but also makes everyday activity much more comfortable. To read more on the clinical findings on Nexrutine® follow this link: http://www.nextpharmaceuticals.com/nexrutine/nexrutine.html

The Phosoplexâ„¢ Connection

John, a 66 year old CEO of a fragrance manufacturing facility, began using a nutraceutical product called Phosoplexâ„¢ containing Nexrutine® once daily. Phosoplexâ„¢ is a high end bone and joint formula containing multiple ingredients aiding bone and joint health as well as pain management with Nexrutine®. After 6 weeks, John stated “I haven’t felt this good in ten years. The aches and pains are greatly diminished and I can hold a golf club virtually pain free. Phosoplex has been more than I expected and have recommended the product to others at our country club.”

Based on current research and recent problems with both pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter drugs natural alternative ingredients like Nexrutine® and natural formulas like Phosoplex™ are the future for safe and effective pain management. If you are in pain give these natural alternatives a try. Be consistent and administer as directed and hopefully you will get the desired results thousands of others have already experienced using these natural aids.

About the Author
Janet is a pain relief specialist located in New York. She offers a broad range of alternative solutions for all health and pain related issues.
For more information on natural health and fitness lifestyle options, log on to http://www.bodestore.com

An increasing number of Americans are relieved to learn there are non-drug ways to ease pain now that safety questions have been raised about another well-known and widely used painkiller, Bextra.

Recent meetings of the FDA were preceded by a petition from a leading consumer group, Public Citizen, asking that the drug be taken off the market. Both the FDA and Public Citizen raised concerns about the safety of Bextra, one of the so-called Cox-2 inhibitors. The Cox-2 drugs Vioxx and Bextra were once viewed as “wonder drugs” for arthritis and painful menstrual cycles.

Bextra has moved into the spotlight while the maker of Vioxx is being investigated. Vioxx was one of the nation’s most popular ways to treat pain and arthritis and was taken by an estimated 20 million people before it was withdrawn from the market. That happened after studies linked it to a heightened risk of heart attack and stroke – information that may not have been fully understood when the drugs received FDA approval.

Researchers released information indicating that the chances for heart attack following prolonged use of Vioxx were four times greater than with older over-the-counter pain relievers. It has also been linked to angina and stroke. A University of Pennsylvania study released at a meeting of the American Cardiology Association indicated that those taking Bextra had a 2.19 times greater chance of heart attack, stroke, sudden death and Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a life threatening disorder in which blisters occur on the patient’s body.

The result is many people are now seeking alternative non-drug therapies. They are also investigating legal remedies.

Those seeking non-drug alternatives to relieve chronic pain should discuss their plans with a physician. Known alternative remedies include:

MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane), a compound normally found in foods. It’s used to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis and help strengthen collagen in the joints.

Glucosamine, primarily used to treat osteoarthritis. Research indicates that glucosamine is as effective as low doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen. It appears to relieve pain and improve movement, slow the progression of the disease and protect joints from further damage.

Wobenzym, an enzyme combination and a top-selling supplement in Europe, now available in North America.

Bromelain, an anti-inflammatory and digestive aid used primarily in Japan, Hawaii and Taiwan.

Those who have suffered heart attacks and strokes while taking Bextra or Vioxx can explore legal remedies at www.painkillerinfo.com or by calling 800-320-5081.

The recent removal of several high profile and popular prescription pain medications of the same pharmaceutical family, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, from the buyer’s market has left many people searching for a safer alternative for powerful, fast and effective pain relief. The most recent removal was Pfizer’s pulling of Bextra, citing serious skin reactions, sometimes fatal, and two others, Vioxx and Celebrex have been linked to heart related risks. The dangerous side effects of this particular family of medications is definitely cause for alarm, and has many seeking alternatives that will manage their pain effectively, without the serious risks of several pharmaceutical pain killers.

CLICK HERE FOR FREE INFORMATION

While there have always been natural and homeopathic pain relief remedies, there has never really been a powerful and viable alternative for people with chronic pain related to ailments ranging from back pain, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia, to rheumatism and hundreds of other joint, mucle, and nerve related ailments. These individuals are in need of serious pain reduction therapy on an ongoing basis, and the typical natural remedy simply cannot compare to the speed and effectiveness of prescription pain medications and narcotic drugs, which suppresses pain by targeting the central nervous system. That is, until now.

Before we get into that, let’s look at some of the more widely known natural and herbal remedies for pain relief. These include varying dosages and combinations of “Devil’s Claw”, Willow Bark, the ayurvedic compound Boswellia, Camomile, Bromelain, St. John’s Wort, Horsetail, and numerous others too abundant to mention.

CLICK HERE FOR FREE INFORMATION

As previously mentioned, these herbs and natural compounds can soothe minor pains and aches, but do not work as effectively as their man-made prescription couterparts. There is now a natural pain remedy on the market that is actually highly effective, and has worked very well for many as a natural pain relief alternative by utilizing a specific blend of several high-grade botanicals designed to aggressively manage pain throughout the day.

These people not only are enjoying the benefits of it’s natural pain relief, but also, and perhaps even more importantly, they are enjoying the peace of mind knowing that they are not seriously endangering their health in other ways simply so they can manage their pain.

No one want to be incapacitated and limited by pain, but who wants to endanger their health just to manage it and live a fulfilling life, and why should you have to? Well, now these people have a natural pain relief solution that has literally been harvested from the land, unaltered, and in it’s purest state. Now, doesn’t that sound healthy?

Danna Schneider is the webmaster and founder of www.cosmeticsgalore.com/natural-pain-pill.html, geared towards natural beauty through the use of cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals, and other healthy, natural cosmetic enhancement and overall health enhancement products.

CLICK HERE FOR FREE INFORMATION

Article Source: EzineArticles.com