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What is Bextra?
What is
Valdecoxib?
What heart problems are associated with Bextra?
Is Bextra
the same as Celebrex and Vioxx?
Has Bextra been removed from circulation?
I have Sulfa allergies – should I be taking Bextra?
What is Stephens Johnson Syndrome?
Should Bextra be taken by nursing mothers?
What other side effects can I expect from Bextra?
What is Bextra?
Bextra is a medical compound intended for the relief of the signs and
symptoms of osteoarthritis and adult rheumatoid arthritis, as well as
the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea (the pain associated with
menstrual cramping).
What is Valdecoxib?
Valdecoxib is, essentially, Bextra. To be precise, it’s the generic
scientific term for the compound that is marketed to the American public
as Bextra.
What heart
problems are associated with Bextra?
The heart valve abnormalities that have appeared in some diet drug users
occur in the two valves located on the left side of the heart. These
valves are known as the aortic valve and mitral valve. In some diet drug
users, one or both of the valves developed lesions that prevent the
valves from closing properly. The blood then flows backwards, creating a
condition known as “regurgitation".
According to a recent study, Bextra is assocaited with heart attacks. The New York Times recently published an article about Bextra heart attacks that discusses this study. (November 11, 2004).
Is Bextra the same as
Celebrex and Vioxx?
No, Bextra is considered to be the ‘next generation’ of
Celebrex. While all
three are known as ‘Cox-2 inhibitors’, Bextra is seen as an upgrade over
Celebrex because Bextra users enjoy far fewer side effects in terms of
the gastrointestinal system. Vioxx users, on the other hand, have been
known to experience side effects that include heart issues, so you can
see why people jumped on Bextra when it was released – and why
Pharmacia/Pfizer were so keen to get it out there. The problem is, while
Bextra doesn’t have the same side effects as the other two drugs, it has
different side effects – and those side effects weren’t known when the
drug was first released to the public.
Has Bextra been
removed from circulation?
No, Bextra is still being prescribed as a painkiller, albeit with label
warnings that are far more wide-ranging than those prior to November
2002. People who choose to take Bextra despite the risks displayed on
the label do so at their own risk, but those who took the drug prior to
the expansion of the label warnings may well have a case.
I have
Sulfa allergies – should I be taking Bextra?
Most definitely not. Since November 2002 (many months after they started
marketing Bextra), Pharmacia has been warning doctors not to give the
drug to patients who were allergic to sulfa drugs. Sadly, this warning
came too late for those who took Bextra before that date, or, more
recently, where doctors failed to make themselves aware of the expanded
warnings.
Scientific evidence also shows that Celebrex users who have sulfa
allergies are also at similar risk.
What is Stephens Johnson
Syndrome?
Stevens Johnson Syndrome is an extreme allergic reaction to chemicals.
Common causes include the drugs Arava (leflunomide), some painkillers,
and many antibiotics. Unfortunately, Bextra has now been added to the
list of chemicals that can cause this potentially life threatening
syndrome.
Symptoms of Stevens Johnson Syndrome include blistering, fever,
coughing, general malaise, swelling and lesions of gums, tongue, or
lips, excessive tearing up of, or "stickiness" of, the eyes, and sores
in the genital tract that cause painful urination.
Should Bextra be
taken by nursing mothers?
Most definitely not. Bextra may or may not be secreted in human breast
milk (the research has yet to be done on this possibility), but it is
known to be secreted through the breast milk of rats. Along the same
lines, it should definitely not be used in the third trimester of
pregnancy.
What other
side effects can I expect from Bextra?
The majority of the side effects associated with Bextra are not
considered serious, but they are certainly annoying for those
experiencing them. The most frequently reported side effect include
upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, and/or headaches.
More serious side effects include blood in urine, black, tarry stools,
dark yellow or brown urine, difficulty breathing, fast heartbeat, skin
rash, hives, redness, blistering, peeling or itching, stomach
tenderness, pain, bleeding, or cramps, unexplained weight gain or edema,
and a yellowing of the eyes or skin.
Signs of a possible allergic reaction include skin rash, swelling
and breathing difficulties. If you experience these symptoms, report
them immediately to a doctor.
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