Good news, too late: FDA mandates harsher warnings on NSAIDS

iStock_000055059528_MediumIf you, or anyone you love, uses NSAIDs to fight pain (including Aleve, Celebrex, Advil, Daypro, and Naprosyn), please listen up—even the FDA is admitting your life is in danger!

The FDA is finally requiring manufacturers of non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to more clearly disclose heart attack and stroke risks on the packaging of these common painkillers (including Aleve, Celebrex, Advil, Daypro and Naprosyn).

The new labels must note the following: “The risk of heart attack or stroke can occur as early as the first weeks of using an NSAID. The risk may increase with longer use of the NSAID. The risk appears greater at higher doses.”

The FDA also noted that the labels must list that the risk doesn’t only apply to patients with heart disease, yet patients with heart disease have a higher risk.

Of course, in true FDA fashion…they still stopped short and noted that there is not enough evidence to determine whether the risk is the same for all NSAIDs. (Seriously, does it matter? It’s not like any are GOOD…)

The new warnings, by the way, will go on both prescription and non-prescription versions of these drugs.

And now, let’s take a short break to watch the drug companies squirm…

Pfizer (the manufacturer or Celebrex and Advil) lost no time in releasing a statement that said: “For over 30 years, extensive consumer use and several clinical studies have shown that Ibuprofen, when used as directed, is a safe and effective over-the-counter pain reliever delivered in a lower strength than prescription ibuprofen. We are committed to patient safety, and we will work with the FDA to make sure that new safety information is appropriately added to our packaging/drug facts label so that consumers can continue to safely use our products.”

Talk about kissing up…the implication here is: It’s not our fault at all! It’s only your fault if you misuse our products! Hopefully we can now help you not be so dumb!

Really, Pfizer? The truth is, your drugs are killers…and the truth is finally going public!

I’ve written for a while now about how these drugs are NOT safe, citing studies that show their risk of heart attack, stroke, and sudden death. And you don’t have to take them for years to see side effects. It’s disgusting that companies are still willing to risk people’s health in order to defend their killer products.

While I’m glad these products will finally get these warning labels, I’m disgusted that these unscrupulous drug companies continue to release statements talking about how “safe” their products are. And I’m equally disgusted that there’s such a long gap time between finding out these things are bad, and then finally doing something about it.

It’s bad enough that these risks should have been reviewed years ago. But it’s taken a year and a half for the FDA to act since they first looked at the reports back in February of 2014. Meanwhile, how many people died–either partially or wholly–due to side effects of these drugs in that span of time?

Lastly, here’s another issue I’ve got with all this. Even though a warning label is good, it’s just that–a warning label. Which is especially ineffective in the prescription form, since irresponsible docs are going to continue to overprescribe this stuff, especially as time passes and everyone forgets the headlines.

I can hear them now… “You’re fine, don’t worry about the warnings.” Just like they do for  all the other drugs they prescribe, from statins to blood pressure meds, that have side effect lists that take up entire commercials, lightened by jazzy music and balmy vacation scenes. And people will say, “Oh, it’s OK–my doctor prescribed it. Those warnings are just a legal thing.”

It’s gotten to the point where we’re not even hearing the warnings anymore, because our so-called “health experts” are still pushing these “cures” on us.

Anyway, just in case you still have this stuff in your medicine cabinet, get rid of it. There are safer alternatives not only to NSAIDS, but also to FOUR other drug classes that are just as bad. See my June 2012 Logical Health Alternatives newsletter for more details. Subscribers can access this issue–and the complete archives–by visiting www.drpescatore.com and logging in to the Subscriber area of the website. You can also search for more information on the topic by typing keywords like “NSAIDS” and “pain relief” into the Search function at the top of the home page. If you’re not already a subscriber, you can sign up here.

Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/10/health/fda-painkillers/


CLOSE
CLOSE