XTEND-YOUR-LIFE Newsletter
Issue - 1st October 2004
Pain... Financial and Physical!
We have all experienced pain of both the physical and financial type. Ironically the blockbuster drug which millions of people take for physical pain is now causing some financial pain for the giant drug manufacturer Merck & Co. The drug in question is VIOXX and is prescribed primarily for arthritis.
Merck today announced the voluntary withdrawal of this drug from the market.
VIOXX is currently approved in more than 80 countries and sales in 2003 exceeded $2.5 billion. However, there has been a marked drop in sales this year due to growing concerns about its safety. It is estimated that around 2 million people take this drug.
So, what went wrong?
In an effort to expand the use of VIOXX for treatments other than arthritis and acute pain a significant sized clinical study was commenced in the year 2000 with the objective of preventing the recurrence of colorectal polyps in patients with a history of colorectal adenomas. (There has not been any mention as to whether the drug actually helped that specific condition.)
However, what the researchers found was that after 18 months those patients taking VIOXX were having an increased incidence of heart attacks and strokes compared to those on a placebo. Based on mounting evidence that the drug was somehow increasing the risk of a cardiovascular event Merck decided to act before the regulators and 'pull the plug' now!
The previous clinical studies on this drug did not show any signs of increased cardiovascular risk... but these trials only lasted around 18 months or less, and the problem only appears to begin to manifest after 18 months. In the Merck press release, Raymond V. Gilmartin, the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Merck, said, "We are taking this action because we believe it best serves the interests of patients."
He added, "Although we believe it would have been possible to continue to market Vioxx with labeling that would incorporate these new data, given the availability of alternative therapies and the questions raised by the data, we concluded that a voluntary withdrawal is the responsible course to take,"
If you would like to read the full news release by Merck, please click here.
This brings me to a couple of other issues...
One relates to the risks of taking prescription drugs. The other is what now are the options for people who have been using Vioxx and now have to consider an alternative?
Let me first address the risks of prescription drugs.
I know that I have said this before in various newsletters over the last three years but when you start on a regime of pharmaceutical drugs you are likely on the slippery slide to losing your good health forever.
Now, let me qualify this statement a little better...
I am not saying that all prescription drugs are bad and that the pharmaceutical companies are the evildoers! I know a lot of people say such things but the reality is that the drugs developed by these companies have saved many, many lives and there is and always will be a place for them.
Some people will argue that they have caused more deaths than the lives that they have saved and point to the statistics that prove that in the USA alone over 100,000 people die each year through adverse reactions to pharmaceutical drugs. But, that figure whilst frightening is not all the fault of the drugs as many of these fatalities can be traced to incorrect prescribing or the administering of a drug by mistake. In other words many of the deaths were caused by human error.
Anyway, exactly which way the scales would tip if all the information was known, nobody can say... least of all me. What I will say however is that when it comes to taking a prescription drug you have to remember that it is your body and it is up to you to make the final decision based on good information.
If your physician recommends that you start on a prescription drug you must understand the potential ramifications of going ahead with the recommendations. Remember that your physician relies heavily on information provided by the pharmaceutical companies and their representatives. The physicians are generally very busy and do not have time to research other safer and perhaps as effective alternatives.
Nor are they trained in nutrition or preventative methods. Also, with the medical industry becoming more and more 'production line' the 'personal touch' is disappearing so writing out a prescription and quickly sending you out the door is becoming the norm rather than the exception. So... if it is proposed that you start taking a prescription drug... question... question... and question the need for it and possible side effects.
Personal research...
Also, research as much as you can about both the drug and the alternative treatments. Always be aware that it sometimes can take years for all the negative implications of drug treatment to 'filter through'. VIOXX is a classic example of this. It was released in the US in 1999 and now at the end of 2004 it is finally being withdrawn, in spite of 'rumblings' about it's safety for some years. The problem is that drugs won't be withdrawn on anecdotal evidence. That I can understand as the companies have a major financial investment in these drugs and hard evidence is needed to actually take the step which Merck has just taken.
Also, always remember that drugs are 'blockers' not 'enablers'. They work by blocking the action of various enzymes in order to relieve the symptoms. This is why they work so quickly... they are not dealing with the cause of the problem... that takes time, just like it takes time for some side effects to manifest themselves. 18 months in the case of VIOXX.
What about an alternative for arthritis.
There are a number of natural options on the market. The most popular is the glucosamine and chondroitin mix. However, there are now more sophisticated and effective ingredients available which will not only deal with the fundamental cause of arthritis but also address the issue of pain.
The good news is that we have completed the development of what will I believe be the most advanced natural arthritis formula in the world. We are currently sourcing the raw ingredients and are hopeful of releasing it sometime later this year.
Irrespective of what you are taking for your arthritis you should be including Omega 3 fish oils in your regime. This will help with inflammation of the joints. Good for your heart too... this is important particularly if you have been a user of VIOXX. Oh... you can get the best Omega 3 by clicking here.
Good luck and good health,
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Important notice: All material provided within the newsletter XTEND-YOUR-LIFE is for informational and educational purposes only, and is not to be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken solely on the contents of this publication. Consult your physician or a qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health and wellbeing or on any opinions expressed within this newsletter. The information provided in this newsletter is believed to be accurate based on the best judgment of the editor but the reader is responsible for consulting with their own health professional on any matters raised within.
