Anyone still taking Vioxx?

[DawnCt1]

I had Vioxx prescribed two years ago for neck pain after a MVA. A year and a day later, I got rammed again in the drive in teller lane at the bank. Since the first injury, Vioxx has come off of the market. The neck has improved with the occasional bad day. Today I had to dip into my dwindling supply of Vioxx (I have about 6 left, not counting sample packages). Anyone else using their left over Vioxx? If you took vioxx, what has been a good substitute?

 

[tinatark]

My brother in law took it - stopped when it was taken off the market. He still says it was "the best there was" - he has a tough time with meds... has some allergies to many of them.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I think the situation was handled badly. It's possible there was a solution to the problem or that some people, knowing the risks would feel their risk for heart problems is very low. Because Merck lied the product will never see the light of day again. DH took it for a couple months because of severe bursitis. It was enormously helpful for him.

 

[Dan Murphy]

When Vioxx was taken off the market, I tried to go without (don't like meds if don't have to). After a few weeks, I could barely get out of the car (osteo in knees). Alleve (or generic) was suggested as good alternative. I started, one in AM, one in PM. After about a week, I was fine again.

Interesting sidenote to the Cox-2 inhibitor meds (Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra)...they were primarily made to provide pain management, roughly equal to the OTC alternative pain meds (Alleve, Anacin, Tylenol, etc), but without the potential GI upsets. The marketing folks however, pushed them as superior pain meds, in pain reduction ability, to the consumer, not really promoting to much extent the true reason for thier existence, low/no GI upset. Consumers asked for, and received, the greatly more expensive Rx's, thinking they were getting better pain reduction. The greater population does not have GI troubles with OTC. Another marketing bonanza created through advertising.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I still have a box of Vioxx left. I was switched to Bextra and I think that was also taken off the market, still have that too. Now I get Celebrex and it works OK but Vioxx is the best for me.

 

[DawnCt1]

The greater population does not have GI troubles with OTC. Another marketing bonanza created through advertising.

That's true and I have always considered myself as having a "cast iron stomach". Well I discovered that Naprosyn, (Aleve) absolutely does me in. I can't take more than 2 doses and I am back on Prilosec for 4 days. I never have to take gi drugs...until I try Naprosyn. I do fine with Ibuprofen but I hate taking medication and that is only good for 4 hours.

 

[DawnCt1]

I still have a box of Vioxx left. I was switched to Bextra and I think that was also taken off the market, still have that too. Now I get Celebrex and it works OK but Vioxx is the best for me.

My podiatrist put me on Bextra for 4 days before Morton's neuroma foot surgery. By the time I got to pre op, my BP was sky high. The anesthesiologist said "you must be nervous". I said, "over foot surgery?" I said then that I thought it was the Bextra. He didn't think so. That evening I got home, weighed myself and had gained 10 pounds in 4 days! My face looked like a beach ball. 3 days without Bextra I was back to normal. Never had that issue with Vioxx. I have Celebrex in the house but I haven't tried it yet. I am never crazy about trying a new drug.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

. I do fine with Ibuprofen but I hate taking medication and that is only good for 4 hours.

Ask your physician for a prescription... 800 mg prescription ibuprofen will get you 6-8 hours of relief. Taking four 200 mg OTC should give the same effect... but it never has for me!

 

[Disney-Kim]

I use Celebrex now. Vioxx was the best...but I didn't want to take chances and got on Celebrex as soon as Vioxx left. It works and helps but its not as good as Vioxx.

 

[Chris2597]

My mom is 86 and has pain from osteo and a hip and pelvis break. She was taking Vicodin to relieve the pain but it doped her too much. She had taken Celebrex a few yrs ago and it worked magic but her dr took her off of it when all of the bad press came out about these drugs...However he put her back on 200mg a day of Celebrex and it is again the magic bullet. Her pain is gone and she is feeling so much better. Her dr said that doses 200mg per day have been found to be safe.....She has some heart issues...so we were apprehensive but it totally improves her quality of life...so the advantage had to be weighed with the risk.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Ask your physician for a prescription... 800 mg prescription ibuprofen will get you 6-8 hours of relief. Taking four 200 mg OTC should give the same effect... but it never has for me!

I used to get an RX for 800mg IBU and I thought it worked better than 4 advil too but I just couldnt see how or why.

 

[DawnCt1]

Ask your physician for a prescription... 800 mg prescription ibuprofen will get you 6-8 hours of relief. Taking four 200 mg OTC should give the same effect... but it never has for me!

I have some of that somewhere too. It just isn't in league with Vioxx.