4 Myths About Anti-Inflammatory Medications (NSAIDs) Busted!

Christina Lasich, MD Health Professional Specialist in Pain Management and Spine Rehabilitation Being a woman can be a pain in the back. I should know because my... Send Message Subscribe: Christina Lasich, MD

Tuesday, September 09, 2008
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Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs(NSAIDs) are the most prescribed medications in the world, but are also the most misunderstood medications. Here are some of the myths about NSAID's busted. 1. Some Work Better than Others: All anti-inflammatory medications (ibuprofen/Advil, naproxen sodi...

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Untitled Comment
shelly
Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 09:17 PM

interesting wasa a fan of vioxx at 50 with no heart problems it worked for me...now moastly use ibueprofen. with some back problems...they work

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Mckay K
Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 11:16 PM

I took Vioxx for years. However I had breakthrough bleeding and eventually insisted that my doctor change my medication.

He reluctantly took me off the Vioxx and I was started on Celebrex. A year later, the NSAIDs controversy started. He then lowered my dosage to 200mgs. He never acknowledge that I was right about the Vioxx.

I am in so much pain today, that I am not sure anything is working.

NSAIDs - Celebrex and Vioxx
A. Walker
Friday, September 12, 2008 at 12:04 AM

At one time, I used both of these meds. Celebrex made my feet and legs swell so I only used it for a short time. It is on my allergy list. Vioxx was a dream come true. For one with arthritis, total knee replacements, nerve damage in both feet, Vioxx appeared to be a dream come true. I still miss it. After a couple years of using it I started to feel strange one day. Had trouble standing without feeling like I was gonna pass out. The next day the feeling has exculated to having problems sitting. I felt no pains anywhere on my body but I started to sweat while waiting for urgent care to give me the runaround. They finally got around to a EKG and found out that the top part of my heart was not working. I then passed out on them and spent four days in the hospital. I stopped taking Vioxx shortly after that because of it side effects. I haven't had anymore heart problems since I stopped. I just wish that there was something else as effective in pain control. I now take Naproxen but it is not Vioxx.

All equally effective?
conphx
Saturday, September 13, 2008 at 12:24 AM

Tylenol does nothing for me.

re: All equally effective?
Christina Lasich, MD
Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 03:42 PM

Tylenol (acetaminophen) is not an anti-inflammatory medication. Tylenol is a weak analgesic (pain reliever) with an anti-pyretic effect (anti-fever). Tylenol is metabolized (broken-down) in the liver with toxic effects if taken in high doses. Eventually, Tylenol is eliminated in the urine.

Tylenol has no ability to control inflammation; therefore, should not be compared to anti-inflammatory medications.

Dr. Christina Lasich, MD

re: re: All equally effective?
conphx
Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 05:59 PM

Thank you for the reply. I dislike pasting prior comments. However, it seems clear to me that you did compare Tylenol to NSAID's & suggested that it was equally effective. I do post some of your comments for a FM group that I'm the organizer for & thank you for writing the column.

2. NSAID's Work Better Than Tylenol: Both types of pain medications seem to work equally well. The only advantage that Tylenol has over the NSAID's is that Tylenol has the least amount of side effects.

re: re: re: All equally effective?
Christina Lasich, MD
Monday, September 15, 2008 at 02:01 PM

Thank you for your comments. I just wanted to make it clear that Tylenol is not an anti-inflammatory (I could not tell from your original comment if you were clear about that). To be clear, studies comparing the pain relieving effects of Tylenol and NSAIDs show that, in general, these two types of medications perform equally well. But, don't we all know that everyone is different which is why treating pain is an art.

Dr. Christina Lasich, MD

Untitled Comment
North Carolina
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 03:56 PM

I was dx'd with fibromyalgia years ago, received Vioxx. I remember the first morning I woke up NOT aching - it was great, but after a year or two on it, my legs felt 'tight' although not visibly swollen. My doc switched me to Celebrex and it helped, but not in the impressive way Vioxx did. After the news about Vioxx came out, I quit taking the Celebrex - I figured it would be declared unsafe as well.

Around 2003, a physician prescribed Diclofenac (a prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug/NSAID.) I took it daily, low dose. It wasn't as effective as Vioxx, but (to me) it was comparable to Celebrex without the risks.

No one I mention it to has ever heard of it - - can you give me some feedback about this med? Is it the same as the NSAIDs you mentioned, just prescription?

After having back surgery a year ago, I've just decided to treat Fibromyalgia with exercise (walking), pilates. Have to admit they don't work as well as Vioxx, but at least I know they have other health benefits and no risks for me.

I know this isn't an option for most people as their pain is much worse than mine, but thought you could shed some light on the effectiveness/pros/cons of Diclofenac just in case it might be an option for others to discuss with their doctors.

THANKS . . .

re: Untitled Comment
Christina Lasich, MD
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 06:56 PM

Diclofenac is also called Voltaren. Because this medicine is an anti-inflammatory, it has the same risks as all others: "may increase the risk of serious and potentially fatal cardiovascular events, heart attacks, and strokes. Risk increases with the duration of use (longer used=more risk). There is also an increased risk for stomach ulcers, bleeding and perforations which can be fatal" This warning is called the "black box warning" that is part of the required information dispensed with medications. This warning is applicable to all NSAIDs. This warning is also applied to the Voltaren gel (although the risk is less in the topical gel than in the oral/tablet form of Voltaren).

Here is a secret: Diet greatly influences how your body can control inflammation, naturally. Your body has a built in brake system for the inflammation freight train. Turn on the brakes with Omega 3's (for example). Some herbs like (devil's claw) is known to work just as well as Vioxx in some studies. You can read more about the anti-inflammatory diet in Dr. Andrew Weil book , Healthy Aging.

Keep walking and keep smiling.

Dr. Christina Lasich, MD

re: re: Untitled Comment
Anonymous
Friday, September 19, 2008 at 10:52 AM

Thanks for your reply . . . I have seen some info about anti-inflammatory foods/diets and will read what you suggested!

The less meds I take, the better . . .

Two in One Drugs
Rita
Tuesday, October 07, 2008 at 01:43 PM

I've seen ads on TV for Caduet. It has two ingredients. One is Amlodipine and the other is Atorvastatin. With my RxDrugCard I can get 30 tablets of Amlodipine for $9 and 30 tablets of Simvastatin for $9. I'll bet they are charging more than $18 for this new drug! Don't pressure your doctor into giving you something just because it's new. Do your homework. Find a drug card like I did at www.rxdrugcard.com. I think that RxDrugCard.com is the best drug card available for prescription discounts.