A Special Health News Alert
From Dr. Rodger Murphree, the author
of TREATING AND BEATING
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Oct 16, 2004
Dear Friends,
By now many of you have read the news about the dangerous side-effects associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). This group of over the counter and prescription drugs includes Vioxx, Mobic, Naprosyn, Advil, Celebrex, and Bextra.
I’ve already reported in past newsletters that according the FDA over 200,000 people are hospitalized from developing serious gastric bleeding and 10,000-20,000 people die every year from these medications (NSAIDs).
Drs. Peter M. Brooks and Richard O. Day, New England Journal of Medicine, 1991; 324(24):1716-25
NSAIDs cover up the symptoms but do not address the cause, and they can actually cause further joint destruction. That’s right. They actually cause further destruction to the joint cartilage. This accelerates the degeneration process and leads to bone loss, inflammation, and further pain.
Shield MJ. Anti-inflammatory drugs and their effects on cartilage synthesis and renal function. Eur J Rheumatol Inflam 1993; 13:7-16.
NSAIDs actually increase the acceleration of osteoarthritis and increased joint destruction.
Brooks PM, Potter SR, Buchanana WW. NSAID and osteoarthritis help or hinderence. J Rheum 1982; 9: 3-5.
These medications are supposed to block a particular hormone (COX2) which causes increased inflammation. Unfortunately, like many medications “magic pills,” it can’t simply be ingested without causing other problems. In the case of NSAIDs, they not only inflammatory hormones but also block the protective lining of the intestinal tract. This leads to gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, and in some cases death without warning.
Other side-effects associated with this medications are just now making their way into the popular media.
Merck pharmaceuticals has pulled Vioxx from the market due to its increased risk for causing stroke and heart attacks.
Merck estimates it will lose 2.5 billion dollars! Make no mistake about it, this is big business. Other pharmaceutical companies are drooling over the potential profits they could make from having patients switch to their NSAID drug. The makers of Mobic have been running a two-page ad in The Wall Street Journal (spending hundreds of thousands of dollars) promoting their product. What always amazes me about these ads that tout instant pain relief (“magic bullets”) is the fine print print on the back of the main article page. You know the fine print that lists all the potential side-effects. In case the case of Mobic here is the highlights of the fine print:
Potential side-effects associated with taking Mobic...
I quote from an ad in The Wall Street Journal, “Serious gastrointestinal toxicity, such as inflammation, bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach, small intestine or large intestine, can occur at any time, with or without warning symptoms.”
Liver damage - 15% of those taking Mobic had elevated liver enzymes.
Liver failure, hepatitis, and other liver diseases have been reported with the use if NSAIDs.
“Long-term administration of NSAIDs has resulted in renal papillary necrosis (renal failure)…” Those at greatest risk for renal failure include the elderly and those taking ACE inhibitor medications.
Anemia can occur in some patients taking Mobic due to kidney fluid retention.
Other potential side-effects include Flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, indigestion, and headache.
The leading researcher for Vioxx has said that he believes all COX2 NSAID drugs will be shown to increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. This would include Celebrex and Bextra. Bextra has been placed on the Not Recommended as Safe list in the “The Worst Pills - Best Pills” monthly prescription drug magazine. Even the FDA has concerns over the use of Bextra for certain pain conditions.
All of these medications have potential life-threatening or life-limiting side-effects.
What can you do?
There is no “magic bullet” that can stop all of your pain. However, there are safe and effective ways of correcting (not just covering up symptoms with dangerous medications) the source of your unwanted pain.
I recently produced a two-CD tape series which shows you how to get to the root causes of pain. This CD series gives you a step-by-step approach to finding the problems and eliminating them through changes in diet and the use of all natural nutritional supplementation. I provide the latest research, along with 13 years of clinical experience, about what really works. No pie-in-the-sky theory. These recommendations are based on what really works day-in and day-out in my practice.
I encourage you to take responsibility for your health. Learn how changing your diet can have a dramatic impact on your health.
Many of the supplements I recommend are available at your local heath foods store. They are also available from www.TreatingAndBeating.com
