Aging in Stride Update: Vioxx and Other COX-2 Inhibitors

from your Aging in Stride team

We would like to alert you to an update to Issue 23: Chronic Diseases and Conditions, page 153. Under "American Geriatrics Society Guidelines for the Management of Persistent Pain in Older Adults," we discuss the medications known as COX-2 inhibitors (e.g., Vioxx and Celebrex).

You may have heard that in December 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a public health advisory announcing that a set of studies suggested "an increased risk of major fatal and non-fatal heart attacks in clinical trial participants taking these drugs." According to The Federal Citizen Information Center, the FDA "has obtained and is evaluating new and sometimes conflicting scientific data on adverse events associated with the use of several non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and COX-2 inhibitors."

In response to the studies, Merck, the makers of Vioxx, voluntarily took the drug off the market. Click here for FDA information about the Vioxx recall.

If You Are Currently Taking Vioxx

The FDA says, "The risk that an individual patient will suffer a heart attack or stroke related to Vioxx is very small. We encourage people taking Vioxx to contact their physician to discuss discontinuing the use of Vioxx and alternative treatments."

See the online Federal Citizen Information Center for up to date information from the Food and Drug Administration.

More Information About Pain Relief Drugs

The FTC has also launched a new information campaign about non-prescription pain relief drugs, emphasizing the safe use of over-the-counter medications. Click here for the free online brochure: The Best Way to Take Your Over-the-Counter Pain Reliever? Seriously.