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An arthritis sufferer may have often crippling pain. A doctor may suggest asprin, Moltrin or Alleve or may prescribe a narcotic such as Percocet. The medicine may have minimal benefits and may cause someone to feel dopey, nauseated, dizzy, or a burning feeling in the stomach. The medicine may cause damage to the liver, kidney and central nervous system. Ulcers may develop, and blood may not clot properly. Is there any hope? There may be.
A new type of treatment, Cox-2 inhibitors may offer pain relief without the side effects. Cox-2 inhibitors may also be effective in colon cancer prevention and are being tested to see if they might be used in treating Alzheimer's disease. The new medications have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
According to the website of the Danbury Orthopedic Association, Osteoarthritis sufferers have chronic, progressive, inflamation in the joints which may limit a person's ability to even walk. A person may feel pain from weightbearing and swelling of joints. Someone may feel discomfort even at rest.
In the past doctors often suggested pills such as asprin which were called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDS) or a narcotic such as Percocet. Some people were not able to take the medicine, because in some the medicine might cause an ulcer, which could lead to gastrointestinal bleeding and even death.
Cox-2 in an enzyme in the human body which causes pain during arthritis by producing prostaglandin. NSAIDS stopped the process but also created the side effects by stopping the effects of COX-1, an enzyme in the body which regulates normal human functions. It is this effect which can lead to the damage to the liver, kidney, central nervous system and other side effects.
Doctors had tried to reduce the side effects and make NSAIDS safer by making the medicine timed-released. When taken with H-2 receptors the medicine did cause less gastrointestinal bleeding. The medicine and the receptors together proved unsafe for some to take, however.
Cox-2 inhibitors have proven helpful in alleviating pain. The have often been able to block the effects and pain caused by Cox-2 enzymes without blocking the effects of Cox-1 enzymes.
The commerical name of Cox-2 is Celecoxib. Celecoxib has relieved the pain and inflammation of arthritis. The medicine hasn't caused gastrointestinal discomfort.
Many tests have been made of the medicine and others are underway. Results have shown Celecoxib is as effective as Naproxin in alleviating pain in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. It has been as effective as asprin in alleviating pain following a dental extraction.
Those tested have had far fewer ulcers after taking Celecoxib, which has the trade name of Celebrex. Those taking the inhibitors have had no more side effects than from taking a placebo.
Tests have shown 72% of those taking Naproxyn develop gastric erosions and ulcers. People taking Cox-2 inhibitors developed fewer ulcers than even those who took a placebo.
A total of 19% of those taking Naproxyn developed gastric erosions. Of those taking 100 mg dosage of Celecoxib, nobody developed erosions. Of those taking the medicine twice a day at 200 mg. each, 6 % developed erosions, compared with 3 % who took the placebo.
People who took Cox-2 inhibitors did develop more headaches than those who took the placebo.
"Arthritic conditions are the world's most crippling disease, more common in most developed countries than heart disease, cancer or diabetes," said Peter Brooks, executive director at Royal Brisbane Hospital in Queensland, Australia, on the website of Lifestyle Magazine.
"The economic impact of arthritis on both industry and government is enormous, given the cumalitive costs of acute hospital care, chronic home care, loss of working days for .... sufferer and caregivers, hospital stays, medicine and rehabilitation," Brooks added.
Anything which would lessen the effects would seem to be very valuable to society. Maybe Cox-2 inhibitors will do that.
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