Was that for *everyone*? 100%? or "statistically significant" (but there
were some failures)?
I'm not trying to be obnoxious, I'm just curious.

I've used both Vioxx & Celebrex; one worked for me, the other didn't, and I
know people who had the same experience but in the opposite direction. But
they were both supposedly "effective". And when I was trying them,
acetaminophen did not do the job (that's *why* I was trying them; I was
quite willing to take pills several times a day, even horse pills, if it
would *work*). And fortunately my problem was not chronic, so I don't have
the pretty much permanent day-to-day problem some people have.
bj

I think much of the problem is a result of these drugs being overprescribed and
overadvertised. The pharm companies have found what I think is s dubious sales
technique in advertising directly to consumers and advising them to go to their
doctors and ask for these drugs. In this situation, many doctors will go ahead
a prescibe these drugs upon request if they think the risks are very low, even
if the patient doesn't really need them  -- otherwise their patient will just
go somewhere else.

Then when lots of people are taking these drugs unnecessarily, it is discovered
that the risks are greater than previously thought. Then everything kinda
backfires and the drug ends up getting pulled off the market.

My mom has severe rheumatoid arthritis and Bextra is the only thing that has
been able to help her. She would be willing to continue taking the drug even
after taking the new risks into consideration (she used to work in a medical
research lab as a technologist and I can assure you she understands the data).
She is rather annoyed that the drug may be pulled and we both feel doctors
should still be able to prescribe it to patients that understand the risk and
really need it.

Mike:

As you must know, acet. (tylenol) doesn't really help with inflammation. I
found it great for headaches and all sorts of pain, but useless for my
severe back pain/inflammation.

Mel