NMI reports no ‘side effects’ from recalled pain relievers

The Commonwealth Health Center has received no reports of people complaining about side effects from taking pain relievers Vioxx and Celebrex, which were both pulled out from the market late last year.

CHC pharmacy director Anthony E. Raho said no cases have been reported or investigated by either the Department of Public Health’s Internal Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting System nor its Quality Management Services office.

Raho clarified that two pain relievers were never added to CHC’s “formulary of medications” because they did not meet the cost-benefit ratio for hospital inpatients.

He said their use within the hospital was negligible and Vioxx and Celebrex were mainly dispensed for outpatient cases.

Ted Parker, vice president of PHI Pharmacy said both drugs are expensive to begin with, so not many patients are buying it.

He said he has heard five or six patients that have taken these pain relievers but none of them have reported side effects.

“There are people who use it chronically,” he said. Parker also said he is not aware of any case in the CNMI of people having heart attacks due to intake of these medicines.

Raho said another pain reliever, which reportedly has also shown adverse effects on patients, Naproxen, is currently on CHC’s “formulary.” He, however, said that its use is very limited, with annual procurement of only less than $300 per year.

He said complete sales data on two pain relievers in the CNMI is not at his disposal and would have to be obtained by private pharmacies and retailers.

With regards to safe pain relievers in the market, Raho said there are several—both prescription and over the counter. Most have a long history of both safety and efficacy when used properly, he said.

“It is recommended that the people in the community consult their doctor or pharmacist for pain relievers that would be best indicated for their individual pain symptoms,” Raho said.

Americans have relied for years on these two popular drugs for relieving chronic pain such as arthritis. However, in September 2004, its manufacturer, Merck and Co., took Vioxx off the shelves after reports surfaced that long-term use of the pain reliever doubled the risk of heart attacks and strokes to patients.

A couple of months later in December, Pfizer also became troubled when similar reports came out that its own pain reliever, Celebrex, increased risk of heart attacks for patients taking high dosages. (Marconi Calindas)