The new generation of pain drugs is supposed to be easier on the stomach. But new data suggest that older pain drugs plus stomach-protecting drugs work better.Newer pain drugs are called Cox-2 inhibitors. The family includes Vioxx, Bextra, and Celebrex. The drugs became widely popular because they were supposed to be safer than older pain drugs -- traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen. Ironically, Vioxx and Bextra were pulled from the market due to rare but potentially deadly heart side effects.Yet clinical trials have shown that the Cox-2 inhibitors caused less stomach bleeding than the traditional NSAIDs. Now a new study -- which focused mainly on Vioxx -- shows that patients taking Cox-2 inhibitors had no fewer stomach bleeds or ulcers than those taking traditional NSAIDs.The study appears in the Dec. 3 issue of BMJ.
