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About Bextra
Bextra, also known as valdecoxib, was approved by the FDA
on November 2001 and went to market in March 2002. Bextra
is made by Pharmacia/Pfizer.
Bextra is prescribed for the relief of symptoms of:
- osteoarthritis (also known as "wear and tear"
arthritis, a degenerative joint disease common in older
people)
- adult rheumatoid arthritis (a severe form of arthritis
which affects over 2 million people)
- primary dysmennorhea (severe menstrual cramping)
Bextra is taken once daily. It is classified as a COX-2 inhibitor,
part of a group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
(NSAIDs). COX-2 inhibitors block one of the enzymes which
causes pain and inflammation; other similar drugs include
Vioxx and Celebrex.
Bextra Side Effects
Side effects of using Bextra may include, stomach pain, diarrhea,
heartburn (dyspepsia), nausea, back pain, headache, and upper
respiratory infection. More severe reactions have been reported
-- some requiring hospitalization.
The European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) has received
reports of serious allergic reactions and severe skin reactions.
As a result, the EMEA issued a warning alerting patients of
serious side effects associated with valdecoxib (the generic
name for Bextra).
Bextra Warnings
In November 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
issued a warning about Bextra. The FDA has received about
20 reports of serious reactions among Bextra users since sales
began.
Reactions reported to the FDA include skin diseases such
as:
Other users have experienced hypersensitivity, including
anaphylactic reactions. The FDA estimates that over one million
people have taken the drug since it first went on sale.
About Bextra
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