Talk Cancer

Question:

Bear, I’m with you. Celebrex let’s me get out of bed in the morning without crawling out of bed, and it controls the arthritis in my hands so I can keep working. From all the research I’m finding, I don’t really think they’ll pull it. The one trial where the problem was found, was using significantly higher dosages than area approved and used currently. What really gets me is some of the interviews I’ve been seeing with doctors who are saying there are lots of other meds that will do as well as Celebrex. Well, let them walk in our shoes for awhile, THEN say that. I’ve tried SO many other meds, and NO, none of them did anything for me. Teri

| I sure hope Celebrex doesn’t get pulled,, it makes it possible for me | to walk without my cane some days. It doesn’t do much for head pain,, | but really helps joint pain for me. | | Bear | | |

Response:

but I do take a lot of Naproxen during my cycle as a preventative though

I wouldn’t worry about it too much.  The drug has been on the market for something like 29 (?) years and only one study showed such results for chronic users.  Just about everybody agrees that it requires more study. Even the issues with celebrex were only detected at 2x to 4x the normal dose (200mg), and this was a single study focused on Alzheimers not the safety of Celebrex. The media just likes a good obsessive binge now and again. Erik

Response:

I sure hope Celebrex doesn’t get pulled,, it makes it possible for me to walk without my cane some days. It doesn’t do much for head pain,, but really helps joint pain for me. Bear – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Safety of Celebrex and Naproxen Questioned An ongoing clinical trial investigating a new use of the Cox-2 inhibitor Celebrex (celecoxib) to prevent colon polyps, which was being conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Pfizer, Inc., has been discontinued because of an increased risk of cardiovascular events in patients taking Celebrex versus those taking a placebo. This follows closely behind… http://headaches.about.com/od/medsarticlesandinfo/a/celebrex_naprox.htm

Response:

well I had a reaction to bactrim once and my doctor said that because of that if I ever was inclined to I needed to steer clear of Celebrex.  (It was cute- he asked if I had heard of it and sang the commercial ditty for me  :) mk   You’re welcome, Michelle. I’m waiting to see on Celebrex since the dosages   in the trial that showed the problem were higher than normal. Guess I’ll   talk to my cardiologist when I see him next month and see what he says.   Unfortunately, I’ve tried many other arthritis meds, and Celebrex is the one   that really works for me. It lets me actually move fairly easily, even in   the morning, and it controls the arthritis in my hands to allow me to work.   I keep wondering, "What next?"   hugs,   Teri   | Thanks, Teri!  I just knew this was coming and it makes me question other   | seemingly safe drugs, even though drugs inherently are not safe.   |   | Michelle   |   |

Response:

You’re welcome, Michelle. I’m waiting to see on Celebrex since the dosages in the trial that showed the problem were higher than normal. Guess I’ll talk to my cardiologist when I see him next month and see what he says. Unfortunately, I’ve tried many other arthritis meds, and Celebrex is the one that really works for me. It lets me actually move fairly easily, even in the morning, and it controls the arthritis in my hands to allow me to work. I keep wondering, "What next?" hugs, Teri

| Thanks, Teri!  I just knew this was coming and it makes me question other | seemingly safe drugs, even though drugs inherently are not safe. | | Michelle | |

Response:

Thanks, Teri!  I just knew this was coming and it makes me question other seemingly safe drugs, even though drugs inherently are not safe. Michelle

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Safety of Celebrex and Naproxen Questioned An ongoing clinical trial investigating a new use of the Cox-2 inhibitor Celebrex (celecoxib) to prevent colon polyps, which was being conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Pfizer, Inc., has been discontinued because of an increased risk of cardiovascular events in patients taking Celebrex versus those taking a placebo. This follows closely behind… http://headaches.about.com/od/medsarticlesandinfo/a/celebrex_naprox.htm — Teri Robert, Ph.D. Migraineur * Journalist/Patient Advocate www.helpforheadaches.com www.headaches.about.com * MAGNUM Support Advisor www.migraines.org

Response:

Safety of Celebrex and Naproxen Questioned An ongoing clinical trial investigating a new use of the Cox-2 inhibitor Celebrex (celecoxib) to prevent colon polyps, which was being conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Pfizer, Inc., has been discontinued because of an increased risk of cardiovascular events in patients taking Celebrex versus those taking a placebo. This follows closely behind… http://headaches.about.com/od/medsarticlesandinfo/a/celebrex_naprox.htm — Teri Robert, Ph.D. Migraineur * Journalist/Patient Advocate www.helpforheadaches.com www.headaches.about.com * MAGNUM Support Advisor www.migraines.org

Response:

I’m right there with you, Bear. I had surger for GERD a few years ago, so stomach issues aren’t as much a problem for me, but I hear you. For me, it’s an issue of having spent many, many $$ and a great deal of time getting no relief while I tried drug after drug that simply didn’t work. hugs, Teri

| | What really gets me is some of the interviews I’ve been seeing with doctors | who are saying there are lots of other meds that will do as well as | Celebrex. Well, let them walk in our shoes for awhile, THEN say that. I’ve | tried SO many other meds, and NO, none of them did anything for me. | | | When they say that I wish they would be put on the spot to name each | and every one that works as well for some one with Barret’s Esoiphogus | and an ulcer right between the stomach and the small intestine. I | haven’t had any problem with the Celebrex that I did with any NSAIDs | so I really want to know what those others that are available are,, my | doc hasn’t heard of any. | | Bear

Response:

What really gets me is some of the interviews I’ve been seeing with doctors who are saying there are lots of other meds that will do as well as Celebrex. Well, let them walk in our shoes for awhile, THEN say that. I’ve tried SO many other meds, and NO, none of them did anything for me.

When they say that I wish they would be put on the spot to name each and every one that works as well for some one with Barret’s Esoiphogus and an ulcer right between the stomach and the small intestine. I haven’t had any problem with the Celebrex that I did with any NSAIDs so I really want to know what those others that are available are,, my doc hasn’t heard of any. Bear

Response:

IMO, this is the problem with many of the media. They sieze the most sensational tidbit from a story, and that’s what they emphasize. The fact is that they’re reviewing TWO studies in particular that involved Celebrex. In one, there were definite problems at doses of 800mg/day, and possibly some problems at 400mg/day. In the other study, there were NO problems at 400mg/day. I’m taking 400mg/day, and have been for several years now. I’m not going to worry about it until I see my cardiologist next month. If we listen to much of the mainstream media, nothing is safe. Then they interview a bunch of doctors who say drugs such as Celebrex aren’t necessary because of all the other arthritis drugs. Really? Let them live in our bodies for awhile before they say that. </rant Teri

I wish they would emphasize points like that- Isn’t that why there are specific dosages?  Really can’t ANYTHING  cause problems if taken in significantly higher doses? mk

 . From all the research I’m finding, I don’t really think they’ll pull it. The one trial where the problem was found, was using significantly higher dosages than area approved and used currently.

Response:

I wish they would emphasize points like that- Isn’t that why there are specific dosages?  Really can’t ANYTHING  cause problems if taken in significantly higher doses? mk    . From all the research I’m finding, I don’t really think they’ll   pull it. The one trial where the problem was found, was using significantly   higher dosages than area approved and used currently.

Response: