Uh vioxx was very good at doing what it was intended to do: have an anti-inflammatory effect while causing less GI bleeds, in fact vioxx was better than celebrex at treating pain. The increased risk of MI is a class effect. Interestingly, some researchers have found substances that could be used adjuvantly with cox-2 inhibitors that could retain their benefit but reduce the frequency of adverse effects.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0417124231.htm
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Originally Posted by tiedyeddog
I can't argue about Vioxx, that seems pretty clear cut that was a pharmacological disaster.
My point is the drugs have to be "proven" to work, at least as well as the standard of care or because it performs well with less side effects compared to the standard. Do drug companies conceal information and lie? Yes. Do doctors prescribe drugs to the wrong demographic or for off label use? yes. Do most drugs need more testing in order to clarify in what populations they should be used? Most certainly.
Are statins over prescribed? Most certainly. Do statins have a place in medicine? The evidence undeniably says yes.
At least we have some barrier to entry into the market for drugs. Huge leap over over what they used to do in 1850.
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