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Former Vioxx, Bextra patients search for alternatives after drug recalls

June 7, 2005

Vioxx and Bextra have been pulled off the shelves, leaving a countless number of patients searching for new treatment methods. For some patients, getting injections to treat arthritic knees was unappealing, but after the recall announcements, more osteoarthritis patients are beginning to turn to the therapy.

Though experts agree the injected substance, called viscosupplementation, is not an effective treatment for everybody, for many people it can postpone surgery. Working as a sort of lube for arthritic knees, the joints are enveloped in a thick liquid called synovial fluid that allows lubrication and keeps the cartilage remaining functional.

Patients suffering from osteoarthritis suffer a break down of this fluid, causing some of its cushioning quality and viscosity to be lost. The first two of four supplementation products for arthritic knees were first FDA approved in 1997. Every week, patients will get a shot for a period of three to five weeks, dependent upon the supplement.

In a large Canadian study, participants with the injected substance were shown to have equal or better relief compared with drugs like Vioxx. The study participants experienced nine to 15 months of reduced pain and improved mobility, but medical literature on viscosupplementation is thus far inconsistent. While some studies found little or no effect, others showed significant improvements.

Supporters of viscosupplementation believe that the injections could create a chain of positive events when showing improvement in patients. Because it is common for patients to stop exercising when they experience pain, which actually makes arthritis worse, when the injections work it can make it easier for a patient to be more active and alleviate pain even further.

The Vioxx recall and Bextra recall has made some consumers leery about potential drug side effects, resulting in a greater movement towards alternative therapies. For more information on the Vioxx recall or the Bextra recall, please contact us to confer with an attorney.

 

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