Prometheus 6

Quote of note:

"The safest thing is probably taking something like Tylenol," a nonprescription painkiller, he said.

Pfizer says Celebrex increases heart risks
FROM STAFFAND WIRE REPORTS

Pfizer Inc. said it found an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes for patients taking high dosages of its top-selling arthritis painkiller Celebrex -- the same problem that led to the withdrawal of its one-time competitor, Vioxx.

The company said it has no plans to remove Celebrex from the market, but the disclosure on Friday sent Pfizer's shares tumbling because of fears that it could cripple sales of what had been the most-prescribed drug for treating arthritis.

Acting U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Lester Crawford said the government is advising physicians to consider prescribing drugs other than Celebrex to their patients.

"We're leaving open all regulatory decisions as we move forward. But we do not have a decision on the fate of the product," Crawford said during a news briefing. "We do have great concern about this product (Celebrex) and the class of products."

Still, at least one Brevard County physician cautioned against labeling Celebrex a "bad drug," until further studies have been done and the heart risks have been clearly sorted out.

"People don't need to panic over Celebrex," said Dr. Roderick Salach, a local rheumatologist on staff at three area hospitals. "Before stopping the drug, patients should be evaluated individually in terms of their cardiovascular risks."

But, Salach said, patients at high risk for either heart attacks or stroke, "to be safe, should probably avoid all cox-2 inhibitors" for now -- the class of drugs that includes both Celebrex and Vioxx.