I have been reading a few posts and have seen Vioxx mentioned some in cancer treatment.

How is Vioxx used in cancer treatment? Is it for pain or something else?

I have been using Vioxx for pain, but my radiation oncologist mentioned that Vioxx seems to have an effect on tumors and blood supply I think is what he said. I think he said that it had shown some effectiveness on slowing tumor growth.

Lynn

Thanks, Lynn, That makes sense. I am on Vioxx for severe migraines. My dr said it does something with blood vessels. I was just curious.

FDA page on the drug:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/druginfo/vioxx.htm There is also a link on the page which will download a very detailed package insert from the manufacturer in the form of a .pdf file.

Kimberly,

Vioxx or more the class of drugs, Cox 2 Inhibitors, were first used to treat various muscle sprains and inflamation. Over the years they have been refined and targeted for things like arthritis and migraines. They are grouped into a class called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Even more recently, because of their ability to restrict blood flow, many clinical trials have shown them to gradually reduce blood supply to tumors, in conjuction with other chemotherapy agents. The entire class of drugs, particularly Celebrex, have a plethora of precautions and side effects when taken regularly and should be closely monitored by a physician. Many of the clinical trials have been solely with terminal patients in an attempt to reduce pain and discomfort. Anyone with history of liver disorders are at a high risk with these drugs.

I recently had a prescription refilled for Vioxx and the insurance company refused to fill it and said you have to be a male, over 55, diagnosed with osteoarthritis to have it paid for by the insurance company. I guess I was a victim of profiling, huh?

Ed

Ed,
THANKS! I didn't realize Vioxx was a cox 2 (should have guessed...) I have read some grug lable warnings that say not to take if y ou are takinf a Cox2....

Also, I didn't know about the liver disorder thing. I'll have to talk to my dr. I had some sort of liver ifection as a child (and was jaundice as a a baby and reuired hospitilization). I also took a medicine in Jr High that sped up the liver's process as a side effect.

Thought I have been on it for 2 yrs now with no problem.

Thanks again.

It's a great drug for arthritis and I take it for my Lupus.. without it I can't walk or use my right hand to work the mouse.. so for me the side effects are not so important...
sunshine... love and hugs
Helen

Please note that many Rx drugs have additional benefits which have been documented by clinical experience, that are outside of the bounds of the original FDA approval. For instance SSRI anti depressants have been found to be successful in treating panic disorders and acute anxiety syndromes. Doctors frequently prescribe for treatment of "off label" conditions, and therein lies the dilemma with insurance. Many companies will not spend the money to take an existing product through the FDA approval process again for a new indication for use, regardless of what the medical community is seeing clinically. Sometimes the only way around this BS is to have the doctor write a diagnosis of something that he actually isn't treating you for, in order to have the insurance pay for it. Obviously this is a touchy area among doctors and isn't spoken of as a matter of routine for obvious reasons. Lexapro is one of the few antidepressants which is being run through the process again so that the Rxing label can state that it may be prescribed for acute panic and anxiety disorders. Other SSRI's which function through the same mechanism are not following suit. This is a financial issue not a clinical one. Vioxx has proven to be useful in areas that are far from its original approval and labeling OK