Medicine Information

What is Bextra? (FDA Recalled Drug)


Bextra, also known as valdecoxib, is a prescribed medication used to alleviate the problems associated with arthritis and other inflammation-related conditions. The drug helps reduce the pain of swelling and fever without causing stomach irritation like aspirin.

NSAIDs work by blocking a chemical in the body called cycloxgenase. Cylooxgenase-1, or COX-1, shields the stomach from the harsh hydrochloric acid it contains, while COX-2, is found in inflamed tissues and causes the pain of fever, infection and arthritis. The drugs were effective for alleviating this pain, but the relief benefits were limited because the traditional NSAIDs caused stomach irritation. Taking an NSAIDs like aspirin causes pain because it blocks both chemicals (relieving pain) but also disabling the stomach protection of COX-1.

When the development of aspirin and ibuprofen came along, medical science searched for a way to provide a safe, non-addictive pain and fever relief without the risk of serious gastrointestinal damage. This came in the late 1990's when scientists isolated the protein COX-2 from COX-1 and created drugs to selectively block COX-2 without interfering with COX-1.

When these COX-2 inhibitors like Bextra were introduced, they relieved the pain of inflammation like arthritis without causing significant stomach damage. They soon became biggest selling pain relievers in the world, with sales in the tens of billions of dollars. Unfortunately, clinical trials began to warn patients about potential risks of increased cardiovascular trauma due to the disruption by COX-2 drugs of the way that the kidneys regulate blood pressure after filtering out impurities. These drugs started causing blood clots to form in the arteries causing heart attacks and strokes. Despite the documented accounts of these risks, doctors continued to prescribe Bextra in larger quantities.

Bextra is dangerous because it increases the patient's chance for heart attacks and strokes as well as endangering patients undergoing post-operative recovery for heart surgery. Patients taking Bextra also face an increased risk of developing potentially fatal skin allergies called Steven-Johnson syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome. After further review, the FDA re-evaluated the drug and asked Pfizer to remove the drug from the market on April 7th, 2005.

Unfortunately the damage has already been done. Bextra caused millions of people to live in fear, anxiety and illness because the were prescribed an unsafe drug. If you've suffered from these dangerous and potentially fatal side effects, you have the right to seek compensation for your physical and emotional anguish. Immediately consult your physician to assess any damage to your health and immediately contact an experienced lawyer to help you get the answers and compensation you deserve. You are entitled to help. Contact a Bextra lawyer today!

For more information about Bextra, please visit our website at http://www.resource4bextrainfo.com

This article may be freely reprinted as long as this resource box is included and all hyperlinks remain intact.


MORE RESOURCES:

Analysis: Deficit spending is tough medicine
The Associated Press - 8 hours ago
WASHINGTON — It's a painful dilemma. The expected growth of the federal government budget deficit to $1.2 trillion this year could swamp future generations ...


Washington Post

Scientologist Views On Medicine Questioned
CBS News, NY - 14 hours ago
"So I started having grand mal seizures," recalls Tory Christman, "and I wasn't even off the medicine. I was only off part of the medicine, and I started ...
Travolta's late son 'not victim of cult' Oneindia
Kawasaki’s disease, cleaning fluid, and cults Blogger News Network
Presley blasts critics for using Travolta tragedy to attack ... Thaindian.com
Popeater - p2pnet.net
all 614 news articles


Ten essential items for your medicine cabinet
Chicago Tribune, United States - 14 hours ago
For information about what to keep in a home first aid kit, go here. Coming tomorrow: 10 things to keep out of your medicine cabinet.


Cost containment focus could have consequences for health care ...
EurekAlert (press release), DC - 8 hours ago
"We believe that in the current environment, the balance has tipped toward market exchanges at the expense of medicine's communal or social dimensions. ...
Money and the Changing Culture of Medicine New England Journal of Medicine (subscription)
all 5 news articles


FOXNews

Obama Wants CNN's Medicine Man to Be the US's Surgeon General!
PerezHilton.com, CA - 16 hours ago
CNN's medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, was supposedly offered the US surgeon general position by President-elect Barack Obama. ...
Video: CNN Correspondent Approached for Surgeon General AssociatedPress
Hotline After Dark -- Your Love Is Like Good Medicine National Journal
CNN's Medicine Man Tapped for Surgeon General? E! Online
Washington Post - Wall Street Journal Blogs
all 1,355 news articles


Khaleej Times

Early Elective C-Sections Produce Complications
U.S. News & World Report, DC - 8 hours ago
8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Once a woman has had a Caesarean delivery, she and her doctor may decide to perform an "elective" C-section ...
Study: Setting early C-sections puts babies at risk Houston Chronicle
Early C-section for full-term babies poses risk Reuters
Early C-Sections Can Double Health Risks for Newborns Wall Street Journal Blogs
Newswise (press release) - al.com
all 209 news articles


I Really Should Study

A taste of Obama's own medicine
NephrOnline, AZ - 14 hours ago
By Thomas Keating Even before "The Transition" turns into the new regime, president-elect Barack Obama has already been fighting back against those who ...
Stay Healthy: Government Healthcare May Be Coming The New American
Replace for-profit insurance with Medicare for all Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Obama's health care pledge may hurt Canada National Post
Capitalism Magazine - San Mateo County Times
all 138 news articles


Times Online

Jett Had History of Seizures, Medicine Ineffective
FOXNews - Jan 5, 2009
Jett Travolta, seen in this undated photo, died Friday in the Bahamas at the age of 16. Jett Travolta, seen in this undated photo, died Friday in the ...
Video: Travolta's Son Likely to Be Buried in Fla. AssociatedPress
Time to Audit Scientology's Anti-Medicine Stance Gawker
Jett Travolta’s Death, Medically Unclear eFluxMedia
The Associated Press - Oneindia
all 6,549 news articles


Research database from the US Library of Medicine
The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com, OH - 12 hours ago
Search PubMed, Clinicaltrials.gov, the CDC and a dozen other medical sites - all at once. AP MEDICAL VIDEO by Brie Zeltner/Plain Dealer Reporter Ohio had ...


Commentary: Equine Medicine Has Come a Long Way
TheHorse.com, KY - 8 hours ago
... be paid for in this challenging economy, keeping a horse healthy is light-years beyond where equine medicine and surgery were a quarter-century ago. ...

Medicine - Google News

home | site map
© 2006