Word: aspirin
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Vioxx is one in a new class of drugs called COX-2 inhibitors, which were designed to be safer for treating arthritis pain than over-the-counter remedies like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. Concerns have been raised about another member of the group, Pfizer's Bextra. The safety of Celebrex, the most popular of the COX-2 drugs, will be reviewed in the coming months...
...strength of a handful of blockbuster drugs, Vioxx was a giant. Unveiled with great fanfare by Merck in 1999, it was part of a group of prescription medicines called COX-2 inhibitors that were supposed to be safer for treating arthritis pain than over-the-counter remedies like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. Thanks to an aggressive, multimillion-dollar marketing campaign, more than 20 million Americans took Vioxx at least once. The drug racked up $2.5 billion in worldwide sales last year and accounted for 11% of Merck's revenue...
...recall also raised long-simmering doubts about the benefits of the whole class of COX-2 inhibitors. These so-called designer drugs, which include Celebrex and a newer drug called Bextra, were supposed to offer the pain-killing power of aspirin without the damage to the stomach lining. But they were a lot more expensive than over-the-counter pain-killers (prescriptions cost as much as $2 to $3 a day), and many doctors felt the drugs were being hyped far beyond their medical value. "These agents have been the subject of absolutely intensive, unrelenting marketing," Wofsy says. Even...
...meantime, don't assume you necessarily have to switch to another COX-2 inhibitor. Aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen work just as well as the prescription drugs, provided that you are not at increased risk for bleeding, peptic ulcer or other gastrointestinal problems. (See box for more details...
...issue in the Scruggs lawsuits and the state probes is soaring hospital charges. You've heard of the $10 aspirin? It's that pricey because hospitals mark up costs an average of 232%--as much as 673% at the 100 priciest institutions, according to a recent study by the Institute for Health and Socio-Economic Policy. Hospitals do this largely because insurers negotiate discounts off the list price, creating incentives to inflate charges. That expensive aspirin also subsidizes other items and services--a widespread practice...