Those who used Celebrex ?

[uncle Alan]

I had been on CelebreX for 6 years & took it twice a day . When we moved back to Florida the VA Clinic was providing [ mailing ] me my medicines . My doctor was alarmed at the dosage & cut it in half . Recently they pulled me off Celebrex & now I get Etodlac 300 mg. 2 X a day . Is everyone aware of Celebrex's bad reputation ?

I worry if all doctors believe the drug companies reps spiel about how wonderful each new drug is . They paint beautiful pictures like new car salesmen.

Not ranting here. Just trying to show an alternative to Celebrex .

Uncle Alan

 

[JD Mandrell]

Celebrex and Vioxx both should cause some drug company people to go to jail in my opinion. The release of either drug rose to the level of criminal negligence.

2 women that work with my mother went into kindey failure while on Celebrex, and my mother was on it also and her blood test showed elevated BUN levels (kidney related) the entire time, but her doctor always blew it off and made excuses for it. I raised such a complaint over it, that he took her off it before any permanent damage had been done.

Folks need to keep in mind that the FDA does practically NO testing on drugs at all, they rely on tests presented by the drug companies themselves. All they do is give the same test over adn over until they get on that gives the results they like, then submit that on to the FDA while hiding the bad ones.

I hope the makers of both drugs get burried under so many class action suits that they never see daylight again.

 

[Mike Hull]

2 women that work with my mother went into kindey failure while on Celebrex, and my mother was on it also and her blood test showed elevated BUN levels (kidney related) the entire time, but her doctor always blew it off and made excuses for it. I raised such a complaint over it, that he took her off it before any permanent damage had been done......................

Folks need to keep in mind that the FDA does practically NO testing on drugs at all, they rely on tests presented by the drug companies themselves. ..............

Also, remember that many doctors get real good perks for pushing............er......uh, prescribing some drugs.

All expense paid trips for "training" at the club med pharmacological university etc.:barf:

Your health is up to you, and I believe you should always question doctors on everything, especially drugs, and if necessary get another opinion. A little more expensive, but not as much as a funeral will cost your descendants.

 

[JD Mandrell]

Also, remember that many doctors get real good perks for pushing............er......uh, prescribing some drugs.

All expense paid trips for "training" at the club med pharmacological university etc.:barf:

You betcha! A former "sunday school" teacher of mine was a drug rep' for Merck, I can't add the number of times that while we were having lnch at some place, he would buy 3 or 4 hundred bucks worth of gift certificates at a time to give out to doctors and nurses when he visited their offices to get them to use Merck products (Vioxx is Merck).

Sickening!!!!!!!!

 

[Nixelplix]

You guys are just helping me confirm my belief that many doctors are just legalized overpaid drug pushers. Thank you for adding some additional levels to my paranoia.

 

[Mellow Chaos]

Well...you either put undue strain on your kidney's and heart or get addicted to narcotics. Tough choice. I take Celebrex three times a week and absolutely love it's pain relief effects. Don't know what it's doing to the inside of me, though.

 

[Nixelplix]

That is true... Chronic pain is a big problem for many people, and it seems like anything that is effective treating it has some big time side effects. It seems like a pretty tough choice to me.

 

[pcnorton]

Also, remember that many doctors get real good perks for pushing............er......uh, prescribing some drugs.

All expense paid trips for "training" at the club med pharmacological university etc.:barf:

Your health is up to you, and I believe you should always question doctors on everything, especially drugs, and if necessary get another opinion. A little more expensive, but not as much as a funeral will cost your descendants.

Yeah Doctors getting huge perks..LOL can you name some? Doc get lunch/dinners paid for and listen to presentation of Drug data and studies. They make their prescriptions based on the welfare of the patient and the thought of doing wrong will get them sued.

Insurance companies on the other hand make million by making deals with drug companies and put certain drugs on their formularies based on $$$. SO you think the Doc's are the problem? Guess you fell for all the propaganda out there. Insurance companies denie meds/push meds based on $$ with no physicial exam of patient and you attack the doc?


I write my prescriptions based on what works best for the patient, not who paid for dinner. I don't know of any Docs that select base on a dinner etc. or other perks..

Celebrex? Viox? Both have problems but the both di work for a bunch of patients. There are many out there that still want them even with the now known risks.

Paul

 

[Mellow Chaos]

Celebrex? Viox? Both have problems but the both di work for a bunch of patients. There are many out there that still want them even with the now known risks.

Paul

Like I said earlier...count me in as a huge fan of Celebrex. Nothing, I repeat NOTHING relieves pain due to inflammation like this drug. Vicodin and its affiliated drugs don't do anything for inflammation.

 

[ptn]

I took celebrex for several years and stopped when I heard that it may increase the risk of heart trouble. I didn't notice a thing that aspirin wouldn't take care of. My wife stopped taking it and life was miserable until she started using it again. I've gone back to aspirin which the medical establishment has been steering people away from for 20 years. I tolerate it well and nothing else works like it. Frankly, I do think it is a miracle drug, efficacious for many maladies. But it's cheap and readily available and therefore unwanted competition by purveyors of more expensive drugs. Hmmmmm. All drugs bring a risk (or even physiological cost) vs benefit equation if you use them. It's a different equation for each user. A small % of celebrex users represent the incidence of heart trouble. Taking it is very much like gambling. Most folks don't mind betting at 98 to 2 odds. After all, although most people who get lung cancer smoked tobacco, most people who smoke don't get lung cancer. [I think I read that statement in a thread on these forums...wish I knew who to give credit to] We are all looking for something when we add chemicals to our bodies, whether it's relief from pain or a reduction in blood pressure or myriad other reasons we add to our natural chemistry. The best thing is to be informed. Do the best you can to learn about what you put in your body and try to underestand your own equation. Nobody cares about you more than you. In the end we each must accept whatever side effects of the drugs we ingest. I don't imagine many folks in America haven't been prescribed some drug or another and it is a liklihood that a person will be taking at least one drug routinely if they live long enough. In the case of cox 2 inhibitors like celebrex, the odds seem to suggest a relatively low risk. I wouldn't worry about it if it is helping and I haven't developed any heart related symptoms. Some people who have taken viagra and similar drugs have experienced blindness. If you were on a blood pressure medication that caused erectile dysfunction but viagra allowed you to maintain a normal sex life, would you take it or give up sex?

 

[Ron Andersen]

For chronic pain, chronic migraines, and other issues, I take a healthy dose of daily medication.

I routinely see my family doctor and two specialists: pain management specialist and a neurologist specializing in migraines (between them, a maximum interval of every 30 days). They all compare notes and make sure I'm well taken care of.

For pain, I'm daily on Celebrex, Zanaflex, Fentanyl transdermal patches, and Morphine.

I've been on Celebrex for several years and have had no problems with it. Because of a recent diagnosis of "borderline" hypertension, my doctors temporarily pulled me off Celebrex to test pain changes and blood pressure changes. After six weeks, I had a noticeable amount of increased pain (they doubled my Morphine intake as a result), an increase in migraines, and no change whatsoever in blood-pressure. Now I'm back on Celebrex and on a hypertension medication (beta-blocker). Obviously, Celebrex has been doing a great job in assisting in pain manangement control.

My blood is checked several times a year for liver and kidney functions due to Rx intake.

Personally, I'm not overly concerned with Celebrex. Maybe I'm ignorant, but medications are most often effective for what they are designed to do but do have some adverse effects (those effects are increased in some people). All medications have the possibility of seriously injuring or killing someone (but remote). Even common, well-known medications can cause serious problems (such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and Aspirin). When taking Rx, it comes down to "odds" whether one will be helped (rather than hurt) by what they're taking.

From what I understand, the biggest concern about Celebrex should be directed at the corporate exaggeration (insert "lies") and cover-up of the medication's concerns. In my opinion, much less should be directed at the medication itself.

 

[Mike Hull]

Yeah Doctors getting huge perks..LOL can you name some? Doc get lunch/dinners paid for and listen to presentation of Drug data and studies. They make their prescriptions based on the welfare of the patient and the thought of doing wrong will get them sued.

Insurance companies on the other hand make million by making deals with drug companies and put certain drugs on their formularies based on $$$. SO you think the Doc's are the problem? Guess you fell for all the propaganda out there. Insurance companies denie meds/push meds based on $$ with no physicial exam of patient and you attack the doc?


I write my prescriptions based on what works best for the patient, not who paid for dinner. I don't know of any Docs that select base on a dinner etc. or other perks..

Celebrex? Viox? Both have problems but the both di work for a bunch of patients. There are many out there that still want them even with the now known risks.

Paul

Welfare of the patient; Yeah, in your world maybe. Here it's a different story.
Anyone looking for pain relief is called a drug seeker. I was called a crackhead by my own doctor when I FINALLY said I couldn't take the pain anymore, and needed relief.
I can't take NSAIDS and the like due to prior internal bleeding and I'm very sensitive to many medications anyway, so narcotics is the only choice.

I have been living with pain for almost 30 years with no treatment for it with the exception of being prescribed a tranquilizer that made me sick.

The pain was so bad my blood pressure was in the 300/270 region quite often. Blood vessels were blowing in my eyes. I can't take 99% of BP meds, but we don't want to treat the source of the problem do we?:barf:

I was finally prescribed a nominal narcotic dosage and my BP dropped by over half. Imagine that!!!

These croakers here say that "the problem of addiction is too high, SO FRIGGIN WHAT!! Are you going to cure the pain? Hell no! I'll have it the rest of my life, so what matter addiction?
I'll be taking this medication, or one like it till I die.
The only addiction I have is the addiction of being somewhat pain free.

Are you patients "demanding" Celebrex any the less addicted? I think not.

Addiction is overrated anyway. If one wants to stop an addictive drug, just cut the dosage till the body and mind get used to the lower dosage, and keep repeating that till you just walk away from it. No big deal!

As far as the club med remark goes, there was quite an expose on just that issue a few years ago, and drug companies were found to keep "retreats" on islands in the Caribbean, among other places, for just that purpose.
On another note, insurance companies pay doctors huge amounts every year depending on how much that particular doctor saved them money, or stayed under the insurance company's budget. Little conflict of interest there, but it's going on right now, all over America.:barf:

Back to drugs, why are doctors so willing to prescribe nsaids to patients who will have to take them long term, when that stuff kills about 250-300,000 a year in this country alone from internal bleeding, heart problems etc.
Just doesn't make sense to me when narcotic pain relieves don't cause that.

Doctors are quick to say that narcotics don't work to relieve pain.............HELLO!!! It's about the best thing going for relief, and lack of side effects. The truth is, most doctors are scared to death of the DEA, and the AMA's lack of support for doctors busted for writing narcotic prescriptions. Too many have admitted this for any denials.

Just because the DEA has lost the war on drugs, and has now started to pick on people they can get easy convictions on, ie: the innocent, is no excuse to mistreat patients in need.

IMO, doctors need to butch up and tell the dea to take a hike, they also need to study up on correct pain management. The American Chronic Pain Assoc. can help you if you need current info.
http://www.theacpa.org/

http://www.aapainmanage.org/info/Patients.php

http://www.painfoundation.org/page.asp?menu=1&item=4&file=page_resources.htm

 

[Mellow Chaos]

I echo Mike Hull's sentiments re: the DEA dictating doctors' prescribing practices. It took me two and half years to find an orthopedist who didn't look at me sideways when I just wanted an adequate treatment plan. I heard everything from "You're young, just buck up.", to "Our normal policy is to not prescribe narcotics to people who can get around on their own.". Pain management? Nasty letter from the insurance company with a denial of benefits. Finally found a physicians assistant who writes generously for proper meds, but I don't use all I am prescribed because I am concerned about addiction AND I want some available when the DEA decides they want to make hydrocodone a Schedule II medication. Bastards!!

 

[Ron Andersen]

If you have daily pain and require daily pain medication, I would seriously recommend that you no longer go to a family doctor for the condition, but rather seek out a pain management specialist. Family doctors are fearful of the DEA. Pain management doctors know exactly how to work with the DEA and from what I understand, mine actually has a DEA agent he works with.

I've talked with family doctors who will prescribe schedule II drugs (basically the highest level of narcotics prescribed) for an "episode" (like an injury or post surgery) from which you can recover after a short time. If it is a chronic condition, they become very skittish. The pain management specialist knows the laws very well and is experienced in dealing specifically with these kinds of issues.

I've been on Schedule II drugs (two of them currently) for years and awaiting technology to catch up before being scheduled for spine surgery...probably several more years. These medications are a very good thing. Without them, I wouldn't be able to work. As it is, my activity level is noticeably reduced and I still have pain every minute of every day. I still have bad days that have me "paralyzed" in bed. But with the medication, I can function normally most of the time.

Regarding "addiction," I'm not worried. Firstly, I don't have a choice. Secondly, I don't have an addictive personally and the doctors, when it's time (if they can get me pain free after surgery), will assist me to successfully get of the narcotics.

BTW... I too can't take NSAIDS due to internal bleeding (because of NSAIDS usage).

 

[Mike Hull]

If you have daily pain and require daily pain medication, I would seriously recommend that you no longer go to a family doctor for the condition, but rather seek out a pain management specialist. ..........................

Ron, I hear you! The problem here is, these so called "pain clinics" are fronts for blocker injections, and you usually never see a doctor, just a "nurse" who does the work. At first injections might work for a short while, if they don't hit the wrong nerve and kill or paralyze you, but the problem is, they only last a few weeks at the most, days is the norm, and with each succeeding injection the time span is less. They can cause abscesses too.

As a side note, I've never allowed these injections as I talked to too many others that had problems from them and a couple of people here have died as the result of this type of "pain management".

I had three cervical epidurals about 1992-3, and they didn't do anything except give me a really bad anger management problem for a couple of months from the cortisone leaking into my system.


The other part about the "pain clinics" here is, they refuse to write scripts for narcotic pain meds.

They make a ton of money on the other scams with the non stop repeat clientele, and don't want to take a chance on the dea visiting.:barf:

 

[Ron Andersen]

Hey Mike,

It looks like we're talking about two different things. Let me explain.

Mine's definitely not a "front" or a "scam." He's a regular "office" doctor...not even having a traditional exam room. It's like an executive "office" that at the most, has a simple exam table (like a massage table) in the corner (been on it twice in several years). Oh, and those little skeleton models on his desk for him to show what's wrong with me.

I've had a handful of facet injections and nerve root block injections (at least the names are something like those...I may not have got them exactly correct)...basically a series of injections into the space between the vertebrae, within mere millimeters of the spinal cord. They work on pain in two different ways from a similar procedure.

[A "funny" related story...When having one of these procedures by one of the best doctors doing these injections in my area, he and his "surgery" room staff--something like 6 or 7 of them, including an anesthesiologist--put me under a "general" anesthetic...this alone is not "funny"; actually quite frightening! Believe it or not, they had me about 98% OUT while he as doing the injections and I began moving involuntarily. I barely remember hearing him tell me to stop moving...as if I had any control whatsoever!!! I remember thinking to myself, "If you'd knock me ALL THE WAY OUT, I'D STOP MOVING...YOU JERK!!!!"]

Back to the "pain management doctor" thing...At least for me, my pain doctor oversees everything related to my pain and "manages" it with the goal of controlling and eliminating the pain in the best way for each patient. If he feels I need those nasty injections, he sends me to a specialist who does that. If he feels I need another MRI to get an update on my condition, he sends me off to get one. If I need an exam/test for nerve damage, he'll send me to a specialist. If he feels I need surgery, he'll send me to a surgeon. All the while, he manages my prescriptions for controlling the pain until the day I'm clear of pain.

My doctor has been voted by his peers as among the best in his specialty in my city.

BTW...I see my doctor (not a nurse...OK, I see the nurse for a blood pressure check in the waiting room and to check my pulse) once a month for updates.

 

[Mike Hull]

Ron, I understand there are many doctors that DO understand pain management, but what I'm trying to say, there's none of them here. Even the so called pain clinics are not that.

This area is rural, and I believe most of the doctors here arrived one step ahead of a lynch mob, or malpractice suit from wherever they came from.

It's great for them here because they can do all the harm in the world and nobody sues them.

There's one doctor here who's killed more people by accident than josef mengele did on purpose.

Another "pain doctor" was doing one of those blocks in the the hospital and the patient died. They (the doctor and two assisting nurses)let him lie there for 20 minutes or so while they all got their story straight. They then put this poor brain dead guy on life support, and claimed some ridiculous thing happened(I don't remember the exact thing anymore), and he just went into a coma.
One of the nurses had second thought about this and squealed. The doctor never made any attempt to recusitate(sp?), just left the guy on the table while they made some story up to cover their a$$es.

The doctors hospital privileges were revoked, and I heard they were going to try him for something, but it just died and went away.

I was referred to the Mayo clinic(by a therapist) for complete pain management on a team approach basis where they treat ALL the problems, but it's a two hour drive down south, one way, and I just can't drive that far anymore because of the back/neck/shoulders etc. spasming up and giving me dizzy spells that could prove dangerous to others on the road.

I do understand what you were getting at. Thanks!

 

[Razzierb]

I've had it in the past to help me through some issues with my back. Wonderful stuff. Takes the pain away and you can still function in the real world.

Razz

 

[Ron Andersen]

Hey Mike,

Ron, I understand there are many doctors that DO understand pain management, but what I'm trying to say, there's none of them here. Even the so called pain clinics are not that

Well, I guess I didn't read your post very well to catch this.

Sorry there's not an adequate pain doctor in your area. I can't imagine living without Rx relief!

I do understand what you were getting at. Thanks!

I appreciate you reading my post and correctly understanding it. I wish I could have afforded you the same courtesy!

 

[pcnorton]

Ron,

Doctors are quick to say that narcotics don't work to relieve pain.............HELLO!!! It's about the best thing going for relief, and lack of side effects. The truth is, most doctors are scared to death of the DEA, and the AMA's lack of support for doctors busted for writing narcotic prescriptions. Too many have admitted this for any denials.

Just because the DEA has lost the war on drugs, and has now started to pick on people they can get easy convictions on, ie: the innocent, is no excuse to mistreat patients in need.

IMO, doctors need to butch up and tell the dea to take a hike, they also need to study up on correct pain management. The American Chronic Pain Assoc. can help you if you need current info.

No doctors are not quick to say they don't work. Tell which Doctors say percocet, dialaudid oxycodone, ect dont work. They will say they are overkill for something.

You hit the nail on the head about why docs don't treat pain effectively, The DEA and culture of drug addiction fear.

The Docs dont need to "butch up". patients do, write your congressman, senator etc. I won't be telling the DEA to take a hike or any of my supervising physicians as we need to work, they make the rules.

Correct pain management is a tough one, as pain is very subjective. The broken ankle the patient one is handleing with ice and elevation and tylenol has patient 2 eating percocet like tic-tacs. Also I have found that when analgesiacs aren't cutting it post op adding a anxiolytic (valium) miraculously cures the pain. Some people are so worked up the pain medicines are never getting a chance to work.

I find the best guys to go to with Chronic pain issues is a pain clinic and they usually have a PharmD (Pharmacist with a Doctorate) that can get the right meds to control pain.



Paul