Diving and Vioxx

[lanshark]

I'm currently on Vioxx for some arthritis in my knees. Will taking vioxx while on vacation cause any issues with diving? I'll be in Cozumel for 2 weeks in September.

I did a search here and found no information.

Cheers,
Lanshark

 

[RobinG]

I used Vioxx for about 3 years and dived about 40-50 dives per year with no problems. I had to quit taking it (doc's best guess that I developed an allergy to Vioxx but unrelated to diving).

You might call DAN or look at their web site.

Robin

 

[baitedstorm]

I take 50mg every day, no problems yet.... almost been a year, with a brief month of resting the old liver, haven't had any other problems, ask the Rx-ing doc if its okay.

 

[mania]

I took vioxx only once and it was surely the last one!!!!
I felt as if my heart wanted to jump out of my chest with the pulse rate almost 200 (my average pulse rate is 80 per minute). I thought I would die.
Later on I talked to a doctor working for the producer of Vioxx and he told me this is a site effect this medicine can have. So I can't imagine diving after taking it - anyway as i said I'm not going to take it again.
Mania

 

[WaterDawg]

No problems here! I dont get that nasty side affect

 

[mania]

My side effects of Vioxx were not that rare as most of you wrote. According to Newsweek MSD - producer of Vioxx withdraw this medicine from the market. Clinical tests proved that Vioxx taken longer than 18th months could cause heart attack or stroke.
Mania

 

[DocVikingo]

The Dr Decompression forum is described as being for "...questions concerning the scientific aspects of decompression. This forum is to provide information of a scientific nature." Dr. Deco is a Ph.D. research scientist, not a physician.

As this inquiry clearly is of a medical nature, I have taken the liberty of moving it to the Diving Medicine forum where it should get a more appropriate audience.

As Mania has indicated, unless your physician directs otherwise one shouldn't be taking Vioxx. Moreover, it is no longer available from the manufacturer or the pharmacy.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[pharmguy]

unless your physician directs otherwise one shouldn't be taking Vioxx. Moreover, it is no longer available from the manufacturer or the pharmacy.

Succinct and correct as always, thanks DV.

As news of the recall spreads the inferences and questions abound. If anyone cares the link from the manufacturer can be found here (for Canada at least):
http://www.merckfrosst.ca/e/products/vioxx.html

Vioxx was pulled because a study was done that found that there is an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke-like conditions that can arise from its use. The increased risk was found after patients were taking Vioxx on a regular basis for at least 18 months. While other COX-2 specific drugs (Celebrex, Mobicox, Bextra) have not been found to cause this risk there is not enough evidence to rule out this possibility.

What does this mean?
1. You should not be mad at your health care provider for prescribing/dispensing this product. They were not involved in a conspiracy to kill you (I hope). New information comes out and we assimilate it and adapt. That is why it is called a medical "practice".
2. You should stop taking Vioxx and talk to your doctor about getting an alternative NSAID prescribed.
3. You should talk to your doctor about your cardiovascular health and see what options (aspirin, NSAIDs, etc) are best for you. Not all medications are right for all people - just because people you know are being switched to "Drug B" doesn't mean that it is safe or will be effective for you, even if the medication is in the same class.
4. You are not guaranteed to die from having taken Vioxx at some point in your life.
5. You should contact your pharmacy about reimbursement. For those of you who have their medications paid for by a third-party plan do not expect a cash windfall. If you paid nothing, you get nothing is basically how it will work (in Canada anyways).

Just my $0.02 (approximately $0.015 US).