Popular Arthritis Drugs May Cause Heart Attacks

Millions of people suffer from the debilitating pain of arthritis.

- Dr. Suresh Shottam

In the past, doctors routinely prescribed non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen for pain relief. These drugs came with significant side effects, like gastrointestinal perforations, ulcers and bleeds (PUBs). Scientists have estimated that NSAID induced PUBs have caused more than 16,500 deaths and 100,000 hospitalizations annually in the United States alone and millions worldwide.

Then came the latest, greatest‘ pharmaceutical discovery’: the COX-2 Inhibitor. The well known drugs in this category were sold in the USA under the brand names, ‘Vioxx’ and ‘Celebrex’. Both these drugs claimed that they were “safer” than the previously prescribed NSAIDs since they caused fewer gastrointestinal problems.

But, what may be okay for your stomach isn’t so good for your heart