The promise of Bextra

A new class of anti-inflammation drugs called COX-2 inhibitors such as Bextra held out great promise of pain relief, especially for patients who developed bleeding ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems from taking older anti-inflammatories like asprin or ibuprofen. Unfortunately, Bextra has been found to cause increased risks of cardiovascular problems with long-term use. In a report releasetd in February of 2005, the FDA also noted reports of serious and potentially life-threatening skin reactions in patients using Bextra. The FDA further found that the advantages of Bextra did not significantly outweigh those of traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.