Return of ther Killer Painkiller.

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- ghostriders.101

ghostriders.101

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 8:39 AM

Return of ther Killer Painkiller.

Return of the Killer Painkiller "What you're talking about is a potential public health disaster. We could have a replay of what we had with rofecoxib [Vioxx]." This is what Dr. David Graham, the heroic whistle-blower of the Vioxx scandal - who somehow miraculously has managed to stay employed as a scientist for the FDA - said recently about a painkiller called Arcoxia (etoricoxib)... Despite the fact that Arcoxia is an NSAID from exactly the same drug class as Vioxx (Cox-2 inhibitors), this is the "new" arthritis medication from the unconscionable Merck & Co., the same mad scientists who engineered the greatest pharmaceutical holocaust ever to march upon the American landscape. Just to refresh your memory, the "official" estimate of the Vioxx death toll hovers at around 28,000 domestically. Dr. Graham publicly postulated in 2005 that the drug was responsible for more like 140,000 American deaths and casualties. And the last time I checked, more than 9,000 lawsuits were still pending against the drug-maker for Vioxx's ill effects... Now, a reasonable person would think that maybe, just maybe, Merck would have learned its lesson the first time around. A slightly more cynical person would rightly conclude that there's SO MUCH MONEY in a successful painkiller that it's worth the risk (or the lives) to put another one on the market - even if it isn't any better or safer! Merck is pushing for an FDA decision on their "new" Cox-2 by the end of April. According to an Associated Press article from April 12th, the fearless Dr. Graham recently testified before an FDA advisory committee about Arcoxia, claiming that safety studies conducted on the drug thus far were neither adequate nor supportive of its approval. Of course, spokespersons from Merck insist that there's more safety data on Arcoxia than for any other NSAID drug. They claim the drug's risks are comparable to an older NSAID called diclofenac... But since diclofenac represents just 5% of the U.S. prescription painkiller market, Graham and others think a comparison to common naproxen (Aleve) would be more appropriate. Merck admits that studies have shown that cardiovascular risks posed by Arcoxia are greater than those posed by naproxen. And for the record, I'm not sure that any drug that's "safer" than common NSAIDs is really so safe after all. Keep reading... ****************************************************

Just say "NO!" to Big Pharma Finally...a drug-free way to prevent just about every pain, syndrome and disease What if I told you really can live your life free of prescription drugs -- and even over-the-counter medications? Better yet, what if I told you can actually treat the actual cause of your pain - not just the symptoms - and rid yourself of the condition forever? Well, before you call the men in the white coats to take me away, visit: http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1246747/16259245/821371/1070/ **************************************************** To start receiving your own copy of the Daily Dose, visit: http://www.douglassreport.com/dailydose/freecopy.html Or forward this e-mail to a friend so they can sign-up to receive their own copy of the Daily Dose. **************************************************** I've never been a fan of taking aspirin or other over-the-counter painkillers for daily heart maintenance, like so many doctors and mainstream media pundits suggest. I've seen a good deal of evidence suggesting that this isn't such a good idea... And today, there's even more. According to a recent Reuters health online article, yet another study has shown that popular painkillers like aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen can raise blood pressure in men. The study's authors conclude this is from the dual effects of retarding blood vessels' ability to expand and the sodium retention these drugs can promote... The research, conducted by doctors from Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that men who took such drugs regularly (6 to 15 or more times per week) were between 26% and 48% more likely to have higher blood pressure than those who didn't take the drugs at all. The risks don't end with men, either. An earlier study, from 2002, found a similar correlation in women. The Reuters piece cites a source claiming that these 3 NSAIDs are the most commonly used drugs in the U.S. Sounding alarms about NSAIDs harms, William Campbell Douglass II, M.D.