General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Here's why *real* medicine is different than woo: [View all]MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)VIGOR was the first study to show reduced risk of GI complications, but the same study also showed a massive overall increase in death and injury, so it was pulled from the market.
So while it was being prescribed in volume, here's is what doctors knew:
- We have no reason to believe that Vioxx is better at relieving pain than ibuprofen. Nobody even suspects that it does.
- It's theorized that Vioxx will be safer on the GI tract vs. ibuprofen, but we don't know if this is true. No studies demonstrate it. It could even be worse.
- Vioxx is a new drug, so we don't know a lot about its safety.
- Death from GI tract complications of ibuprofen are pretty unusual and rarely fatal.
- Vioxx costs more than $3 per pill, vs less than a penny for ibuprofen.
Unless the above is wrong (and please let me know if it is), would *you* have prescribed Vioxx?