Warning: Taking Bextra May Harm Your Health

Another Vioxx-like occurrence may be on the rise, as warnings about Pfizer's arthritis pain drug, Bextra, continue to mount.

According to a study of more than 1,500 patients who had previously undergone cardiac surgery, those who were treated for pain with Bextra were more likely to have heart and blood clotting problems than those who received no drug at all.

Associated problems included:

* Stroke

* Heart attack

* Blood clots in the lung

* Deep vein blood clots in the leg

Regardless of the fact that taking Bextra presents such serious health risks, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still believes the benefits of the drug outweigh the risks when used by the right patients. In light of these health concerns, however, the FDA approved a new label for the drug, which warns that those who recently had heart surgery (or who are allergic to sulfa products) should not take the drug. The revised label also strengthens the warning of the likelihood of severe skin reactions -- two of which may result in death.

Bextra is a cox-2 inhibitor, which is a class of painkillers that are popularly used due to their efficiency in treating arthritis pain and other ailments. Vioxx is also a cox-2 inhibitor and was pulled from the market due to the cardiovascular risks linked to taking the drug.

Considering the health risks involved with cox-2 inhibitors, the FDA will be holding a public advisory meeting to discuss the safety concerns of these and other related drugs.

USA Today December 9, 2004

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

I have previously posted an article warning that Bextra's risks are even higher than Vioxx's. And, as this article stated, the FDA is now modifying Bextra's label to state that taking the drug after having cardiac surgery could increase one's likelihood of heart and blood clotting problems.

Folks, I saw this one coming years ago: In 2001 I warned my readers of the adverse effects from taking Bextra. This drug is just another cox-2 inhibitor disaster waiting to happen. Pain-killing drugs -- meant to relieve symptoms but never the true condition -- are rarely necessary.

Why take the risk of serious side effects from anti-inflammatories when you can create your OWN anti-inflammatory, merely by changing the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in your diet?

These two types of fatty acids are BOTH essential for human health. However, the typical American consumes far too many omega-6 fats and not enough omega-3 fats to be healthy.

While the ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats should be 1:1, most people's intake ratio averages from 20:1 to 50:1! This unbalanced intake could lead to several health problems, whereas proper consumption of omega-3 can help prevent disease or improve many chronic conditions such as:

* Breast cancer

* Diabetes

* Heart disease

* Ulcerative colitis

* Arthritis

* Childhood asthma

* Depression

* Hyperactivity

The easiest way to balance your ratio is to consume more omega-3 fats from good sources and to reduce your intake of omega-6 fats. The primary sources of omega-6 are corn, soy, and canola, safflower and sunflower oils; these foods are overabundant in the typical American diet, which explains our excess omega-6 levels. You want to avoid or limit these oils in order to be optimally healthy.

On the other hand, the best omega-3 fats are those found in fish. That's because the omega-3 in fish is high in two fatty acids crucial to human health: DHA and EPA. Unfortunately, eating most fresh fish -- whether from the ocean, lakes and streams or farm-raised -- is no longer recommended.

This is because (if you are an avid reader of the newsletter then you already know) mercury levels in almost all fish around the world have now hit dangerously high levels, and the risks of mercury now heavily outweigh the benefits gained from fish-derived omega-3 fats.

Fortunately there are clean sources of fish oil you can access without having to worry about mercury levels and added toxins, Vital Choice Alaskan Wild Red Salmon comes from the relatively pristine waters of Alaska that have virtually no mercury pollution

Not only is this salmon mercury-free, but it is also loaded with omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, is high in antioxidants to help you live longer and tastes absolutely delicious!

You can also achieve omega-3 benefits by taking fish oil and cod liver oil, as this is a clean, safe and pure alternative to fresh fish. I have researched brands and types of fish oil and cod liver oil extensively and can say with absolute confidence that I recommend Carlson's brand fish oil and cod liver oil. Carlson's fish oils are rigorously tested for potency and purity and is a healthy addition to most any diet.

Dr. Joseph Mercola
Author of Total Health Program
Founder of the renowned Optimal Wellness Center
http://www.Mercola.com - The #1 Natural Health Site on the Internet!

---

Could This Be Arthritis In My Hands

Hi Rusty. A few days ago, I slightly injured a... Read More

Eliminate Agonizing Hand Pain Quickly and Easily!

According to Dr. Nathan Wei, "The hand and wrist are... Read More

Protopic Cancer Risk Lawyer

The FDA issued a warning in July of 2005 on... Read More

Viagra Users - Overcome NAION Fear

NAION is the latest side effect linked to Viagra and... Read More

5 Risks to Avoid When Purchasing Discount Medicines Online

With the increasing price of prescription medications, many consumers are... Read More

Medication Compliance Kit ... A Life Saver

Pill Proof LLC introduces the first, easy to use medication... Read More

Talking Money with Your Doctor: Drugs and Tests for Less

Would you buy groceries without knowing their prices? I suspect... Read More

Implant Dentistry ? The Convenient and Safe Alternative to Dentures

If you are missing a tooth or a group of... Read More

Parasites In Your Colon

Your colon is a place for other parasites and organisms... Read More

Army Report Validates Prediction of Vaccine-Induced Epidemic

"The more we do to you, the less you seem... Read More

Physicians, Chiropractors and Physical Therapist Agree on a New Treatment for Low Back Pain

One of the most prevalent and difficult health conditions to... Read More

Be Informed About The Medications You Take

The recent withdrawal of the prescription drugs Vioxx and ... Read More

Celebrex? Vioxx? Can My Doctor Provide Me With Safe Prescription Painkillers?

The news has been full of the recent FDA findings... Read More

CT and MRI Scans in Neurological Practice: A Quick Overview

Before computed tomographic (CT) scans became available in the 1970s,... Read More

Integrative Medicine And Its Future

The NBC National News, quoted the Washington Post in March... Read More

Clinton on South Beach Diet

Clinton's recent quadruple bypass surgery has been largely debated. Being... Read More

Sinusitis: Sinus Infection Deals a Corporate KO

Sinusitis and Sinus Infection Starts with a Little SniffleYes, I... Read More

An Addition For Practitioners - How to Help Your Patients and Your Practice

Please feel free to comment, so I may modify this... Read More

Latest Medical Spa Equipment Showcased at New York Medical Spa Expo

This year, the New York Medical Spa Expo confirmed the... Read More

Chronic Headaches and Pain Often Can Be Eliminated By A Special Dentist

DENVER ? Sometimes as Freud once said a good cigar... Read More

Medical Malpractice Suits: Death By Medicine

A recent report has found that Americans are more frightened... Read More

The Lower Cost Prescription Drug Alternative

Today in the United States, there are hundreds of thousands... Read More

Death by Fluoride

A wee bit of fluoride makes teeth and dentists happy,... Read More

Exposing the Miracle Cure

It was Saturday morning and while I was making breakfast,... Read More

Pharmaceuticals: The Next Frontier in America?s War on Drugs

America's war on drugs, which has been fought in the... Read More

Lunesta For Insomnia: A Guide To Compare Generic Lunesta ( Eszopiclone )

We all know that there's no such thing as cheap... Read More

Another Cold Sore! Why Me?

An estimated 85 million Americans have acquired the herpes simplex... Read More

Medical Error Crisis

The unfortunate truth about medical errors is that they plague... Read More

You Are Getting Very Sleepy....The Truth about Hypnosis

A hypnotic "trance" is not something that is foreign to... Read More

Questions to Your Physician or Psychotherapist

According to ongoing research about the needs of patients with... Read More

When Your John Doe Is Homeless

The patient, known only as John Doe, was difficult to... Read More

Kids and Medication Part I

We have all talked a lot about the problems in... Read More

An Introduction to Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common condition, but... Read More