Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Merck is pulling vioxx from market

My thoughts exactly Maggie.
For the longest time now I've been thinking of comming off the Vioxx and going solo.The thought of not using any meds has now re-entered my mind. The last time I tried dropping a pill ,the pain was back in full force. I must admit that its scarry for me to try this again. I still have vioxx pills for another 17days . That is how much time I have to muster up some courage to try this again. I see my dr. in 17days as well so I could be on some other meds but I would rather be free of anti-inflamatory drugs all together.
Maybe I am just dreaming
Ray

boy, Ray...
did you say a mouthful...it'd be so nice to eliminate nsaids...then i could get rid of the prevacid,
which has been my prime obective for more than two years...to ditch the prevacid, i've got be stable for a year.
all discouragingly involved.

i sure do hope you do well...seeking new drugs is a tough bit.
some days i think about just taking neurontin, muscle relaxers and pain pills.

best aloha Ben

Hi Ray

Really nice to hear from you
Well, I'm trying allready. So far. I feel very flu like and generally achy. My eyes are red and irritated again. I know my AS ( or whatever it is that ails me ) has been doing quite well lately, so I havn't yet started to have that "seized right up " feeling. Maybe, it's just a matter of time - we'll see.
If all NSAIDS are just as bad and I can't afford DMARDS then I'm pretty much screwed wouldn't you say ?
Even if the sore eyes and flu like feeling are the only things that happen, they are still exceedingly unpleasant so I'm not sure what I'll do.

I plan to hang in for as long as I can anyway.
Let us know how you do too Ray.

Maggie

Yup, and when they say they're pulling it, they *pull* it. I saw your post early on Thursday morning and thought I could sneak one last prescription out of the pharmacy. Called in my Rx, everything seemed to be fine, but then got a call back saying that there was a 'problem' with filling the Vioxx. Ah zut! Thought I'd sneaked that one by

Truth is that I just didn't need another thing on my to do list ... This was midday Thursday and I was leaving for three months of electives in England on Friday. Anyhow, I found the opportunity to stop by my rheumatologists office on Thursday to pick up some samples and an Rx for Celebrex. I hope it works .

In the meantime, I'm using the remaining month of Vioxx up. Maybe I shouldnt do so in light of the recent developments. But I have a feeling that there is a sub-population of people that have an increased risk of heart problems on Vioxx, and I don't think that relatively healthy 30 year olds falls into that group.

However, should I have wanted to, I would have been eligible to return my remaining pills to the pharmacy for a refund. That's right folks, Vioxx is refunding money for the current supplies people have at home. Sooo, if you're interested, take your Vioxx back to the pharmacy for some moolah!

By the way - my last days before leaving were chaos, but I'm here safe and sound in Loz's flat.

Jeanna in UK

You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true.
-Illusions, Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah

Hi,

hope you enjoy Blighty, where are you doing your electives?

David

Well I did it...or should I say.... I didn't do it I didnt take my Vioxx pill today. I'll know in a couple hours how I am feeling. I am a bit scared though. I will give it a chance and try to ride this out. I cheated a little b/c I found some of my old meds(3yrs old) I took a 1/3 dose of Voltarin. The dr. will likely put me on that when I go back in a couple weeks. Wish me luck.
Ray

I so happy that they pulled vioxx! I have been trying to get my insurance company to cover Bextra for five months now, but they wouldn't because of the discount Merck gave them. Now they have to cover it!

And, by the way, Merck has known about cardiovascular complications for at least three years. It has never been approved for elderly patients, or people with heart problems, high blood pressure, etc. It has been advised that all patients on Vioxx be monitored for increased heart rate, blood pressure, etc since the drug was released. I don't know what caused the increased concern, but it must have been pretty serious to pull it off the market. Or it could just be a hoax...so when Merck's new drug comes out, they can brag about how it's so much safer than Bextra or Celebrex! Anyway, we will probably never know the truth.

Oh, and for those of you who have been on Vioxx, and found it to be the only thing that works, I am truly sorry!

Good Health and God Bless!

Well I did have spells of extremely fast heart rate and palpitations but even the cardiologist didn't question my use of vioxx.
What's up with that ?
I did have this same problem years ago though but last year it returned big time.

Well, anyway, vioxx days are over I suppose.
I feel like crap right now but this is supposed to be a healthier option right ?

Maggie

Hi Maggie!

Hope you're going well!

David

It's so sad. I've never felt as good as I did taking Vioxx. It was magical for me.
I actually just about forgot what being in constant pain was like. Now it's all coming back to me.