The Gold Standard For treating Arthritic Pain

By Dr. W. Gifford Jones

March 18, 2001

Is it possible that the sale of the new arthritic drugs could outnumber those of bestselling Viagra? I never thought it would happen. But there are new kids on the block called COX inhibitors. The newest one is "Mobicox". This and the other COX drugs, Celebrex and Vioxx, are bringing relief to millions of arthritic sufferers.

An estimated 22 million North Americans suffer from osteoarthritis (OA), the most common wear©and©tear form of this disease. Others are afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis, the inflammatory type.

For years the standard treatment of arthritis has been the use of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They've helped millions of patients. But they've also created a major problem.

Studies show that 40 to 60 percent of patients taking NSAIDs develop erosions in the gastro intestinal (GI) tract. 15 to 30 percent of these patients develop either stomach or duodenal ulcers which may perforate or cause dangerous bleeding.

The result is that every year in the U.S. 75,000 patients are hospitalized with GI problems due to NSAID use. And 7,500 patients die from these complications. A high price to pay for comfort.

It's a world©wide problem. A Danish study tracked 207,000 people over 19 years to determine the extent of GI bleeding. It showed that the use of NSAIDs increased the risk of bleeding 5 times. For those over 75 years of age the risk was 27 X greater.

How can standard NSAIDs relieve pain so well while at the same time cause stomach ulcers and bleeding? The reason is that traditional NSAIDs destroy an enzyme called COX©1. It's the good "house©keeping" COX which normally protects the stomach's lining.

In 1989 researchers discovered another enzyme, COX©2, the "bad" COX. This produces a substance called prostaglandin which triggers the inflammatory arthritic process.

So researchers did the obvious thing. They designed new NSAIDs which are more protective of COX©1 and eliminate the inflammatory effects of COX©2. Now they have become the gold standard for easing arthritic pain. The newest one Mobicox is now available in Canada.

Dr. Ken Croitoru, Associate Director of Gastroenterology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, says, "The story surrounding the approval of Mobicox is considerable news for the millions of people suffering from arthritis pain."

Dr. William Bensen, an outspoken rheumatologist at McMaster University, believes the new COX©2 inhibitors should be prescribed to most patients who require an anti©inflammatory drug. As he says, "I believe we should always be giving patients the best."

Dr. Bensen has first©hand knowledge of the new COX©2 inhibitors. He himself has been unable to take the old NSAIDs due to GI irritation.

Mobicox takes a big step towards improving the quality of life for arthritic patients. And for allowing them to become more active.

Dr. Paul Dieppe, Professor of Rheumatology, Bristol University, Bristol, England, is a world authority on osteoarthritis. He believes that doctors and patients must rid themselves of a popular myth about exercise and arthritis.

Activity, Dieppe stresses, is vitally important. But the tendency of patients is to reason, "my joints hurt and they hurt the more I use them, so I must be causing damage. Pain means damage, therefore I'll do less."

Dr. Dieppe claims there's now overwhelming evidence that the opposite is true. The more patients exercise the less likelihood of further joint damage and the pain gets less.

Mobicox tablets are taken orally once©daily without regard to timing of meals. Patients should take the lowest dose possible. This is usually 7.5 milligrams (mg) for osteoarthritis and 15 mg for rheumatoid arthritis.

Mobicox is well tolerated and has no meaningful effects on either the kidneys or cardiovascular system. The most common side©effects are diarrhea, upset stomach and nausea. But these effects occur in less than five percent of patients. The same number showing similar side©effects on dummy pills.

The cost of arthritic pain is enormous. For example, in Canada the total health budget is 75.2 billion. It's incredible that Health Canada estimates 10.8 billion was spent just on medicines for arthritis!

The use of Mobicox, just 78 cents a day, will save health care dollars. It requires millions to hospitalize patients and to care for serious complications of the traditional NSAIDs.

The discovery of COX©2 inhibitors is an important step. It demonstrates that scientists are now able to develop rifle©like drugs. One that can target certain parts of the body without causing damage elsewhere. In the U.S. the drug is called Mobic.

W. Gifford-Jones M.D is the pen name of Dr. Ken Walker graduate of Harvard. Dr. Walker's website is: Docgiff.com

My book, �90 + How I Got There� can be obtained by sending $19.95 to:

Giff Holdings, 525 Balliol St, Unit # 6,Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1E1

Pre-2008 articles by Gifford Jones

Canada Free Press, CFP Editor Judi McLeod