Pain News

Thursday, February 17, 2005 FDA Whistleblower Cites Unpublished Data on Dose-Dependent Cardiovascular Risk of Coxibs
The FDA advisory panel on COX-2 inhibitors heard testimony today from a leading voice in the movement to restrict their use... US FDA Joint Meeting of the Arthritis Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee; February 16, 2005.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005 Meta-Analysis Shows Coxibs Raise Blood Pressure Relative to Traditional NSAIDs
Analysis of pooled data provides additional evidence of cardiovascular risk associated with coxibs and suggests differing effects among members of the class...Aw T-J, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:1-7.

Tuesday, February 08, 2005 Rofecoxib but not other NSAIDs Increases Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction Among Low-Risk Elderly Population
New research is consistent with the VIGOR and APPROVe trials, which led to drug's abrupt withdrawal, and suggests that cardiovascular side effects may not be a class effect & Levesque LE, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2005; 152:1-10.

Monday, February 07, 2005 "Blackberry Thumb" Emerging as Common Ergonomic Complaint
Reports suggest that rheumatologists may see an increase in cases of de Quervain's tenosynovitis as a result of overzealous blackberry use...

Monday, January 31, 2005 New Research Highlights Generation Gap, Ethnic Divide Among Chronic Pain Patients
While African Americans experience more pain and related negative effects than do caucasians, young adults across both ethnic groups do not cope as well with chronic pain as do their older counterparts...Baker TA, Green CR. Pain Med. 2005;6:29-38.

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 Three New Studies Further Elucidate Risks and Benefits of Coxibs
Newly published study findings from CRESCENT show that rofecoxib significantly increases 24-hour blood pressure after 6 weeks of therapy, while celecoxib and naproxen do not; two other published studies address COX-2 risks and benefits... Sowers JR, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:161-168.

Monday, January 24, 2005 Continuing Concerns of the Cardiovascular Risks of the COX-2s
As the European Medicines Agency is set to determine the fate of COX-2s in the European community and the US Food and Drug Administration readies for a rare advisory meeting in mid-February, the journal Circulation has presented a meta-analysis of two clinical trials that provide further evidence that valdecoxib increases cardiovascular risk in CABG patients, including a study that provides a better understanding of the mechanisms in these agents that may accelerate the atherogenic process& Egan KM, et al. Circulation. 2005; 111:334-342.

Friday, January 21, 2005 The Promise and Peril of the Next Generation of COX-2 Inhibitors
CIAOMed continues its series on the impact of the withdrawal of rofecoxib (VioxxR) from the worldwide market. The first installment (CIAOMed.org; November 9, 2004) discussed possible mechanisms of the cardiovascular (CV) risk observed with rofecoxib, and whether they apply to other selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. The second (CIAOMed.org; December 10, 2004) examined the impact of recent disclosures about COX-2s and CV risk on patient management. This third and final installment focuses on the clues to CV risk profiles of the second-generation COX-2 inhibitors and the role these newer drugs will play if they are approved for marketing in the US& Brune K, Hinz B. Scand J Rheumatol. 2004;33:1-6.

Friday, January 21, 2005 Interpreting TARGET: Who Faces CV Risk?
Rheumatologists interviewed by CIAOMed express caution about the use of lumiracoxib and disagree with some of the interpretations of TARGET findings...Farkouh ME, et al.  Lancet. 2004;364:675-684.

Tuesday, January 18, 2005 One-Third of US Adults Including Growing Numbers of Arthritis Patients Turn to Complementary and Alternative Medicine
In response to continued use of these products, rheumatologists are urged to become more aware of nonprescription medications and drug-herb interactions...Tindle HA. Altern Ther Health Med. 2005;11:42-49.