The bad news keeps coming for the painkillers

• Arthritis patients have been under intense pressure lately and it has more to do with heart problems associated with a variety of painkillers as opposed to arthritis itself, and it all started with the recall of Vioxx.
• For example, the US Food and Drug Administration says Pfizer's Celebrex and Bextra, both Cox-2 inhibitors, should be reserved for patients at high risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
• The agency issued the advisory after Celebrex was shown to increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes by more than three times during a high dose cancer trial.
• Vioxx, also a Cox-2 inhibitor, was withdrawn from the market by Merck in September when a study showed it increased the risk of heart attacks and strokes by two times, compared with a placebo.
• Aleve, with the active ingredient Naproxen, available over-the-counter in the US, was also associated with increased heart risks recently.
• The FDA advisory also include a warning to patients taking this non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
• The FDA said consumers taking Aleve should strictly follow label instructions and not exceed recommended doses.
• The FDA also warned people not to take the drug for more than 10 days, unless instructed to do so by a physician.
• The entire issue over drug safety emerged earlier this year when Vioxx, one of the most effective arthritis medications was associated with major cardiovascular events.
• For the past three months arthritis patients have seen their drug options dwindle to a point where some people suffering from arthritis have refused to take any medication for their pain.
• The FDA is advising doctors to weigh the benefits against risks when prescribing Cox-2 inhibitors for their patients.
• However, many people suffering with arthritis have lost faith in the system.