my thought, too.  Though rather than calling it sloppy, I call it
over-simplification.  Too often the press thinks it needs to over-simplify
stuff for the general public.  But I also think it has a lot to do with how
Vioxx was marketed here in the US.  Remember all those annoying ads on TV?  
Talking about "for the pain of osteoarthritis"?  Those set up the image of it
as a pain killer in the public's mind.

Of course if you have the time and energy, you could make a pest of yourself,
emailing the various press agencies when you hear them misrepresent Vioxx.  
It may not change anything, but I find I feel better sometimes for having
made the effort to set them straight.  LOL  In fact, a letter tothe editor in
your local paper after the next story appears might actually get a few local
folks to pay more attention.  Smaller organizations  tend to be more
responsive.  Hmmmmm, I wonder what the NY Times has been calling Vioxx with
the historic insistence on accuracy.  Well, I'm just running off at the brain
here.

Oh, and my RD has no problem with folks who have normal hearts staying on
Bextra.  The study that's oput there was done on bypass patients and he
hasn't seen any problems with his patients who don't have heart issues.   And
he's a pretty sharp guy, I'm trusting him on this for now.

Yep, not sure which one of the regulars brought it up
before but this has been talked about. Love to see a
drug addict try to get a high off Vioxx.
Duckie

But your understanding of what is taking place with the press is right on
and well said.  Please do not worry about the tirade,,,, sometimes things
need to be said just for the honesty of it all.
Harv

Just like that moron John McEnroe trying to get himself in the news
again a few years ago claiming he took steroids during his athletic
career so he could make the rounds of the different television shows.
He, and the brilliant press, were completely ignorant (surprise!): he
took corticosteroids for inflamatory injuries. I guess half of us on
this newsgroup should look like the Governor of California did back in
the late 70s, after all, we're just chock full of steroid users here!

The European advice is that these COX-2s should not be prscribed for
patients who have suffered a stroke or who have ischemic heart disease.

More on this at

http://www.thestreet.com/_googlen/stocks/biotech/10209520.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN&cm
_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA

Peter

Rosie, that's really good news for those who could take Vioxx without bad
side effects.  It was wonderful for my OA, but it did cause high bp and
edema.  And I already have coronary artery disease, and had a heart attack.
Wish I could take it!
Gwen

Yes that was on the news last night...And once again they were calling it
Pain Reliever....YIKES!!!!!!