New arthritis drug.The real breakthrough was when the COX-2 inhibiting nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs DefinitionNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are medicines that relieve pain, swelling, stiffness, and inflammation. (NSAIDs) first emerged. First was Celebrex. Next came Vioxx. Now there is Mobic (or meloxicam) for the treatment of the symptoms of osteoarthritis osteoarthritis or osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint disease Most common joint disorder, afflicting over 80% of those who reach age 70. It does not involve excessive inflammation and may have no symptoms, especially at first. . For those who suffer chronic arthritis pain, these drugs were a true innovation. The first generation of NSAIDs worked by inhibiting both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes because they could not distinguish between the two. COX-2 enzymes are involved in pain and swelling. COX-1 enzymes affect the prostaglandins Prostaglandins Prostaglandins are produced by the body and are responsible for inflammation features, such as swelling, pain, stiffness, redness and warmth. that protect the stomach and kidneys. The new NSAIDs are smarter because they work only against the COX-2 enzymes--pain relief with fewer gastrointestinal side effects Side effects Effects of a proposed project on other parts of the firm. like bleeding. The new drug, Mobic, is expected to be less expensive than the very expensive Celebrex and Vioxx. For those who suffer chronic pain, having more options is good news. (Food and Drug Administration, April, 2000) |
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