Originally published March 7 2005
FDA panel concludes that Vioxx should be available to those who benefit from the drug
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The FDA concluded that despite possible heart problems, patients should have access to Vioxx and similar drugs if they can benefit from them. While the exact regulations and warning labels are still being debated, the FDA did conclude that the drug manufacturers are no longer allowed to target the end user, they must advertise to the health professional who can then make the decision on whether to prescribe it.
Arthritis drugs Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra will stay on sale and on the shelves after the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) advisory panel reached a narrow consensus allowing their sale, albeit with strong warning labels and certain restrictions.
After considering various arguments, the FDA's advisory committee left the decision to doctors and patients by stating that the three drugs, even though they could pose increased risk for heart problems, should be available to patients who benefit from them.
Most of the panellists felt that the three drugs should carry the strongest warning for prescription drugs - the 'black box' warning - and a guide that provides information about the risks.
They also sought certain restrictions on Vioxx, such as limiting sales to the lowest dose and recommending it as a second option after other painkillers.
Advertising the drugs, direct to consumers, was also thumbed down by the panel.
In September 2004, Merck voluntarily withdrew Vioxx from the market after a study revealed that the drug boosted the risk of heart attacks.
Cox-2 inhibitor drugs don't affect the stomach adversely and so are popular with those whose stomachs are sensitive to aspirin, ibuprofen and other non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs.
According to Dr Mark Fendrick of University of Michigan, the use of the drug should be restricted to those who have low risk of cardiac problems or have sensitive stomachs.
Critics, however, feel that the drugs are back on the shelves due to fast-track approvals based on small industry-run studies that are incapable of spotting potential dangers.
Dr Sidney Wolfe, director, Public Citizen's Health Research Group dubbed the drugs 'weapons of mass destruction' and said that allowing COX-2 inhibitors to stay in the market 'defies common sense'.
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