a pharmacy...you can ask the pharmicist

Celebrex (or originally Celecoxib) is a controversial drug that is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, acute pain, acute migraine headaches and menstrual pain and discomfort. Also Celebrex is used to reduce the number of intestinal polyps in patients with a rare genetic disorder called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), that if untreated develops into colon cancer. This drug is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug (specifically a "COX-2 inhibitor") and it is prescribed to relieve pain and swelling.

Celebrex is infamous for being associated with increased risk of heart attacks or strokes in patients who have taken the drug for long periods of time. Also the patients who have take the drug for a long time have suffered bleeding ulcers, liver damage, kidney problems leading to kidney failure, and fluid retention. It is manufactured by Pfizer Inc and it was introduced in Canada in 1999. This drug caught attention when a related medical Vioxx was withdrawn from the market in 2004. This event triggered a lot of action against Celebrex, still the drug experienced a short raise in sales. During the Vioxx trial it was claimed that Celebrex carries the similar chemicals and can cause similar problems, and that triggered a drop of Celebrex sales.

Only in 2006 the situation became stable and Pfitzer continued the advertising of Celebrex again. The advertisements caused protests form the consumer advocacy groups, but at the moment Celebrex is allowed by the governmental Food and Drugs Act. In 2008 Pfitzer settled most of the Celebrex and Bextra (a similar drug, recalled in April 2005) lawsuits. While strongly linked to already banned Vioxx and Bextra there available research do not support the conclusion that Celebrex increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

In Canada Celebrex also has a strong opposition that resulted in a class action lawsuit in 2005 in British Columbia. The lawsuit was filled by Poyner Baxter laws firm, the same that conducted a lawsuit against Vioxx. The removal of Vioxx from the market caused enough ground to file a similar lawsuit against a similar drug – Celebrex. The law firm stated that the drug increases the risk of serious adverse cardiovascular complications like heart attack, stroke, angina pectoris, atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, hematoma, irregular heartbeat, palpitation, premature ventricular contraction, tachycardia, venous insufficiency, cerebrovascular accident, congestive heart failure, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, transient ischemic attack, unstable angina, and occlusion. As in many lawsuits related to dangerous products the Poyner Baxter claims that Pfitzer knew about the negative effects of the drug, but continued to sell and market it. The current status of the lawsuit is still unclear, still Celebrex continues to be sold but with stronger warnings.

Today if you or your relatives are suffering from the effects of taking Celebrex you can always file a lawsuit and you will be backed by numerous anti-Celebrex organizations. The most important things for this lawsuit will be gathering medical data that proves that the person has taken Celebrex and that the person has the effects caused by this drug and finding a good lawyer of course.

Mine will be on ebay as soon as I finish my next bank job.

Travel Health Overview – Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of the scariest of all travel-related diseases. It can affect relatively healthy people, taking relatively short flights. People in their twenties have been known to develop DVT, as have people that are fanatical exercisers and have never had a cardiovascular problem in their life. There is no vaccination for DVT – however there are certain precautions that you can take to protect yourself against it. There are also certain precautions that you can take against the financial loss you might suffer if your trip is disrupted by having to seek medical treatment for DVT, such as travel insurance. We take an in-depth look at the condition.

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?

Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in the deep veins of the legs. The reason it is common for air travelers is that gravity makes it relatively hard for blood to get back to the heart. Our body normally utilizes the squeezing action of our legs muscles acting on our veins as we walk to return blood to the heart. When you sit still for a long time, though, blood pools in your veins and can sometimes clot.
If the clot begins to break up, DVT can get serious. Small pieces of clot may block blood vessels in your heart or even brain, leading to a pulmonary embolism or stroke.

A Traveller's Perspective

Here are some common things that passengers and patients say about having a deep vein thrombosis:

• I had pain in my calf or leg that wouldn't go away
• My pain seemed a lot like muscle stiffness, for example like pulling a muscle
• The ache can come and go
• Even people who don't smoke, are on oestrogen medication and have no family history of thrombosis can develop DVT
• You might be told not to fly for at least a month if you have suffered a DVT

The disruption to your trip is much more severe than simply having to make a doctor's appointment elsewhere. If you are at risk for DVT, both medical travel insurance and logistics-related travel insurance is recommended.

Why Does the Risk of DVT Persist For Weeks?

It is not so much that risk of developing a DVT persists for weeks after your flight, as there is a very real risk that a clot which developed during a flight and was unnoticed, will break up and block a blood vessel up to several weeks later. If you have a leg massage, or sit for a long time for any other reason in the weeks following a flight, you might have a pulmonary embolism or stroke. Also, a small clot which developed during a flight might increase in size and be noticed up to a month later.

If you are at risk of DVT, you can help prevent it by:

• Drinking plenty of water during your flight
• Doing small exercises with your feet and legs every fifteen minutes while in the air
• Wearing support stockings
• Use footrests if available
• Don't drink alcohol or caffeine, as they dehydrate you

How Travel Insurance Helps

Because DVT can become an acute problem up to a month after your flight, and because there is a such a wide demographic that can develop DVT, holiday insurance is highly recommended. Even those undertaking shorter flights would be wise to take out both medical travel insurance cover and logistics-related travel insurance cover, because of the risk of DVT.

About the Author

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