jc,
great info. i interpret the medical findings to conclude that all nsaids (cox1 and cox2) can weaken the GI tract. if one must take nsaids, i still think the cox2, specifically vioxx, is preferred because it is probably is slightly safer for the GI tract than the older nsaids. if taken in high enough doses for long enough periods of time, even the vioxx will cause problems.
i took feldene for 6 years and it definitely hurt my gut.
on a related note, i wonder how many AS sufferers later develop IBD after years of nsaid abuse. im not talking about direct nsaid induced GI inflammation which can occur shortly after taking nsaids and can be reversed by stopping the drug, but the slow erosion of the GI tract over years of nsaids and its negative affect on the muscosa. i know the medical community says AS and IBD are separate but related diseases, but i cannot dismiss the possibility that the reason some AS sufferers develop IBD years later can be due to nsaid abuse which weakens the mucus opens the door for IBD.
-ken
