January 6, 2005
Pain
Happy Thursday and Happy New Year!
I hope that everyone had a safe celebration and an easy transition into 2005. The topic of the newsletter this week is pain. Many of you heard about Merck's recent withdrawal of the leading arthritis drug, Vioxx. Merck pulled Vioxx, its arthritis and pain-reliever drug, off the market on the 30th of September after a study found that patients were twice as likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke as those taking a placebo.
In a quote from the FDA.gov website:
Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Lester M. Crawford states, "Although the risk that an individual patient would have a heart attack or stroke related to Vioxx is very small, the study that was halted suggests that, overall, patients taking the drug chronically face twice the risk of a heart attack compared to patients receiving a placebo."
Dr. Mercola made an interesting comment when he learned about the FDA Commissioner's statement, "Dr. Lester M. Crawford seems to be saying two different things in one statement! "very small risk" is quite different from "twice the risk". (Source: www.mercola.com)
In 2003 the drug made $2.5 billion in sales in the US alone. This should give you an idea how many people are affected by the results of this study and the possible side effects of the drug.
Dr. Mercola has been cautioning people against Vioxx since 1999, when a study was first published by the National Academy of Sciences showing an increase in one's risk of heart disease. Here are some comments by Dr. Mercola:
"The market for analgesics is about TEN BILLION dollars per year. That is one big number. That is why these are important drugs to watch. It is important to remember that anytime you are dealing with numbers that large there will inevitably be corruption, greed and negative influences that are a part of the story if drugs are involved.
Why take the risk of serious side effects from anti-inflammatories when you can create your own anti-inflammatory?
Simply changing the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in your diet could do this. Folks, this is non-controversial and there are dozens and dozens of studies which clearly demonstrate this. Even traditional medicine has firmly embraced these concepts.
I review many controversial topics, but there is no disagreement on this one. Virtually everyone acknowledges that omega-3 fats play a crucial role in arthritis. If you need guidelines on how to use them please review my comments on Dr. Connor's excellent article."
Many will switch to Celebrex or another pharmaceutical for pain relief. Keep in mind that Celebrex has been shown to increase heart disease risk also. (Source: Washington Post August 22, 2001; Page A04 - JAMA August 22/29 2001;286:954-959)
Dr. Mercola and the Optimal Fitness Center both agree that the Metabolic Typing Program is the answer for finding the right diet for you. This will help you achieve the ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats. Contact us today for a program.
The diet is the key to success for pain relief; however, some supplements that we have at OFC have shown to be beneficial.
New research supports safety and efficacy of Kaprex
Kaprex is a clinically tested herbal dietary supplement that provides natural relief of minor pain. Vigorous testing has shown Kaprex to be gentle on the gastrointestinal tract, suggesting it may be a safer choice for minor pain relief. For more information, go to the research article section or click on the photo on the right.
Another alternative is Boswellia Complex.
For anyone that may ask you what herbs might be a good substitute for Vioxx, I would like to share a colleague's personal anecdote.
"In December 2000 I had a shoulder injury from a car accident. A doctor wrote a prescription for a still-new anti-inflammatory called Vioxx, which I accepted with intentions of throwing it away, however, I decided to do a brief experimental trial on myself. I had been taking 2 Boswellia Complex BID for a few weeks. I stopped taking this for 7 days as a "wash-out" from any anti-inflammatory support. I couldn't lift a glass of water by day 4.
I then took one 25 mg Vioxx daily for 3 weeks and it effectively relieved the inflammatory pain. During this time I took measurements for pain-free range of motion and lifting. Then I discontinued the Vioxx and did another wash-out for several days, and again, couldn't lift a glass of water during this time.
I started back on the Boswellia Complex at 2 tablets BID and within a day, I was able to lift light objects without discomfort and within 3 days, my pain-free range of motion was as good as, or better than while on the Vioxx experiment. The anti-inflammatory effects of 4 Boswellia Complex tablets are comparable to a 25 mg Vioxx!"
For those of you who are in pain and taking anti-inflammatories, find out your metabolic type and try some alternative supplements that have proven to be safe and effective. Also, if a movement hurts, avoid that movement until it is pain free. This does not mean refrain from physical activity completely. Movement promotes circulation, which can help speed up the recovery process. The key is to avoid pain and do the right exercises for you. Call today for a pain reducing program that incorporates nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle recommendations.
Have a great rest of the week!
Brien