The Journal of the American Medical Association recently published the results of a study linking the popular arthritis drugs Celebrex and Vioxx to an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. The popular cox-2 inhibiting drugs are marketed heavily and are increasingly prescribed.
Researchers analyzed four studies originally conducted for purposes other than determining the cardiovascular side effects of cox-2 inhibitors. Three of the studies linked Vioxx with an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Merck & Co., manufacturer of Vioxx, and Celebrex's maker, Pharmacia Corp., both maintain their medications are safe.