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i too was prescribed Bextra for pain, so, i looked it up and found that there are even lawsuits pending, or a class action lawsuit in the works  against this drug too, because of the side effects , my doctor gave me a months supply  of free samples from his office because my insurance refuses to cover it... this too was a red flag for me because my insurance also refused to cover Celebrex abnd Vioxx stating that these drugs were not proven to be effective in their opinion....

I HAVE BEEN REACTING TO BEXTRA FOR A COUPLE WEEKS NOW...BAD ITCHING, BRUISING AND BURNING URINE?? ANYONE ELSE??

I've been taking samples that my Dr. gave me for shoulder pain for about 3 weeks when I thought I had  stomach virus and hurt all over.  The stomach ailments went away but the achy pain didn't.  I hurt all down the back of my legs and into my feet.  My skin is very sensitive and I'm ache to the bone.......

I called the Dr. yesterday and was advised to get 2 Benedryl in me ASAP.  After 3 I felt the same so they called in a Medrol pak and told me to start it immediately.  I'm almost halfway thru the pack and still hurting.  I've neever had or heard of anything like this before............

Am I to assume that I'm allergic to 'sulfa drugs' because of this?

M, I've read and was told if you develope a rash to call your Dr. ASAP!

I can't remember the exact time that I started to take Bextra but I know that it has been a while.  I was in the grocery store and was talking to the cashier about my nails.  I wear acrylic ones.  I was telling the cashier it was because of the condition of my own nails.  We were comparing notes and it turns out that we both have the same problems with our nails and that we are both on Bextra.

I have been on bextra for some time now as an alternative to naproxyn and ibuprofen. Over the past several years of taking it, I have had recurring cellulitis, phlebitis and sepsis. Most requiring trips to E.R. and/or stays in the hospital for IV antibiotics. This past episode (just a few weeks ago) required multiple regimens of antibiotics, i.e., augmentin oral, rocefin IV, levaquin IV, and finally levaquin oral upon hospital dismissal. Four days ago I started itching all over the entire upper half of my body including the palms of my hands. The vascular surgeon overseeing my cellulitis care asked me what other prescription medications I was taking. When I mentioned bextra, he immediately stopped me and told me to get off the antibiotics saying it could be a reaction. I have been off the antibiotics now for 3 days and after hearing the news today about bextra have decided to quit taking it as well. I am hoping the agonizing itching goes away soon. Hydroxazine and benedryl lesson the symptoms to a degree, but can't stop it entirely.
I am also curious if anyone else has had circulatory problems they believe could be linked to bextra. Mine has become so chronic, I have three physicians telling me I am now disabled and no longer able to hold a job which either requires sitting or standing for any length of time. Needless to say, I am besides myself wondering if this medicine has brought me to this point in my life.
Am interested to hear from anyone who has had similar situations.
Thanks...
TC

My husband was just prescribed Bextra for  his knee since the Viox he had been taking was recalled..
I read in the newspaper this morning that Bextra can cause rash inside as well as out

My husband is an avid bowhunter and was having problems with his knees.  Before going to Colorado on a hunt in 2002 his doctor prescribed Bextra.  It worked wonders for his knees, no more pain.  Before the hunt was over he began experiencing irregular heartbeat.  When he returned home he stopped taking the Bextra and his heartbeat returned to normal.  The following year he went hunting again and his knees began bothering him so he started taking the Bextra again.  This time he had a continuous problem with the irregular heartbeat after he quit taking it.  After he returned home the irregular heartbeat did not go away and his doctor referred him to a cardiologist who diagnosed his problem as pvc's.  Both doctors did not link the problem with the Bextra, but that was before all the problems with it and Vioxx hit the media.  He is now on medication for the irregular heartbeat.  Has anyone else had a similar experience with Bextra?

[color=green]I've been on either ibruprofen, naproxen, celebrex for the past 18 years for rheumatoid arthritis. I have had no problem with any of these drugs. Five months ago my dr. feeling Bextra was a safer drug, took me off naproxen and put me on Bextra.

A few weeks ago I noticed when i was laying in bed at night that i had an irregular heart beat. With all that's been in the news lately about Vioxx and Bextra I called my dr and told him I don't want to be on Bextra anymore, put me back on Naproxen. As of today I'm off Bextra. Hopefully and prayerfully my heartbeats will go back to normal.

BTW, I'm buying Puts in Pfeizer thinking the stock, like Merck, is going to drop like a lead balloon.[/color]

[color=green]Good health to all,
Linda[/color]

Both my sis and I developed Asthma type symptoms after taking Bextra last fall.  Since then, we both develop asthma symptoms after taking aspirin, ibuprofen and naprosyn, as well as red food dyes.  I'm still really upset over this.  Neither of our Drs seem to think there's a connection, but we've neither one really had to use our inhalers since stopping all of these meds.  I might add that we both have severe degenerative problems in our backs and both have a history of migraines.  Excedrin Migraine (containing Aspirin) has been the most effective med for my migraines.  Now, when I get a migraine, I'm in agony for several hours because there's nothing else I can take.  All I can do for pain is take tylenol (scared to death to even do this any more- BIL in hosp now with APAP related liver failure), rest and use ice/heat.  My sis is now on Tramodol which leaves her strung out, nauseous at times and hiccuping.

BTW, when I saw my Dr about the Bextra related problems, he gave me a sample of Advair and said I could keep taking the Bextra and the Advair would control the wheezing.  Of course, Advair is basically Serevent with another drug added in.  Isn't that just a kicker?
babs

I have just recently, within the last 60 days, stopped taking Bextra, Xanax, Paxil and Hydrodone and for the last 60 days I have been itching like no other. I thought I just had dry skin until I realized my scalp was itching as well and I have never had a problem with dry skin on my scalp. Much less I have never had dry skin on the rest of my body made me itch like I have been. I itch constantly now, but I am so glad to just be alive after readying about all the bad things related to all the drugs I was on.
I should have known better to begin with, my father is a Chiropractor and all I have heard my entire life is how bad all drugs are, but no, I had to go and start taking all this crap. It started innocently enough, I was trying to get on Valium or Xanax because I was yelling at my step-son every stinking day and I thought that I needed something to help calm me down.
Apparently what I really needed was a kick in my own as to grow up and not take everything to heart so. Well, like I said, I'm off all the drugs and I am much happier as is my family, but I can't seem to shake the severe back pain that I have. In the past six months I have had X-rays and MRI's and CatScans, you name it, but there is nothing wrong enough to cause the continued pain. Has anyone else suffered these types of back pains? It's obviously not skeletal but muscular, but I have been in physical therapy a couple of different times and I continue to stretch and use the exercise, which is the only way I can get through the daily pain. I get an occasional Chiropractic adjustment but I have a sever dislike for my father currently so I do not visit him and being unemployed for the past 4 months I have not been able to afford the appointments. Thankfully my wife's insurance just pick me up and I have a couple of job opportunities just arise today, so I am hopeful.
Take care all, BUT don't take drugs.

[quote]Interesting to see others have had an irrregular heatbeat while taking bextra. My doctor told me to stop taking it today. I have been taking it for  a couple of years and my irregular heartbeat got so bad last year I thought I would lose my mind. My doctor had me wear a haltermonitor last year and it showed my heart had over 800 irregular beats (or extra beats) in a 20 hour period. I ended up going to a cardiologist and he put me on some meds that have helped somewhat. I will be curious to see if the heartbeat corrects itself after stopping the bextra.[/quote]

In seven controlled Osteo Arth and Rheumatoid Arth studies, the following adverse events occurred in 0.1 - 1.9% of patients treated with BEXTRA 10 – 20 mg daily, regardless of causality.

[b]Cardiovascular: [/b]Aggravated hypertension, aneurysm, angina pectoris, arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disorder, heart murmur, hypotension



Michael Monheit
Michael@Monheit.com
[url]http://www.monheit.com[/url]

Let me start off by saying that I am NOT an attorney- I am a retired nurse.  The statistics quoted regarding the potential heart related effects of Bextra indicate that there is a slight risk of the problem you cited of Funny Little Beats (FLB's for short).  Less than 2 per 100 people taking Bextra may have heart problems due to Bextra- you may well be one of those 2 people, so no I don't think anyone is calling you crazy.  It may be difficult to prove that it is Bextra causing the problem as so many other things, including caffeine, can cause FLBs. 

Most times, FLBs aren't anything to worry about.  I'm glad you've had the Holter monitor done and be sure to listen (I mean REALLY listen) to the cardiologist as far as whether you have FLB's that are serious and whether or not they should be treated.  Keep in mind that ALL medication carries a risk of some pretty nasty side effects and ANY medication (including Tylenol) should only be taken when absolutely necessary and after a thorough risk/benefit analysis.

As far as Pfizer/Pharmaceutica statistics regarding safety of their drugs, the FDA has pretty much accused them of lying, so I wouldn't put TOO much stock in these statistics.
babs