Concerned by recently discovered dangers of relatively new arthritis and depression drugs, most Americans would prefer a drug that has been on the market at least a decade, according to a new survey.
"Seven out of 10 American consumers would prefer a drug that had been on the market for 10 years or more over newer drugs, even if the co-pays were equal," according to the survey of 1,092 insured adults sponsored by pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions .
Dangers that have surfaced in clinical trials of a popular class of arthritis pain drugs called Cox-2 inhibitors hyave caused this change. The family of drugs includes Merck & Co.'s Vioxx, which was withdrawn in September after extended use of it was found to double the risk of heart attack and stroke.
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Pfizer last month agreed to suspend U.S. sales of Bextra, its newer Cox-2 arthritis drug, after it was also linked to heart attack and stroke.
