Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives AS Pharmacy Vioxx (Rofecoxib)

Hello Linc:

I believe I am having an experience similar to yours. I had been on 50mg of Vioxx per day for about one year. Before that 25 mg for close to one year. Last October I started Remicade. In January, blood tests showed elevated enzymes. First 91, then 130, 145 150. The tests did not suggest alcahol. I drink only on Friday night, but tend to overdo. Because the enzymes elevated after quitting Vioxx, my rheumie sent me to a gastroenerologist. At first he looked at me and the tests and said "fatty liver, probably diet". To get a quick answer, I went for an ultrasound of my liver and a few days later, a biopsy. The ultrasound showed fatty liver. The biopsy confirmed this and also showed inflammation. I had previously tested negative on hepatitis A, B & C testing. My rheumie and gastro pointed to alcahol, but the biopsy doctor suggested medicines. I believe the primary factor is the VIOXX. I should also say that my fast food diet has left me with cholesterol of 270.

I am now off alcahol and Vioxx. I am carefully watching my fat intake and cholesterol. I haveb lost about 12 pounds. My last tests showed the enxymes back down to 130. I have resumed Remicade and plan on going without NSAIDS for a while.

Than you very, very much for your post. My gastro said Vioxx couldn't do this. If you look at the Vioxx website, however, it is full of liver side effect warnings. I am going to give him a copy of your posting when I see him in two weeks.

Good luck with everything.

augustk

Wow!
sounds like you went through the ringer....
I drink beer regularly, before I took the Vioxx and after. My primary care doc, whose tests in August '91 showed the elevated enzymes, told me to relax on the booze, even though I told her I'd been on Vioxx since early May, 25 gms a day occasionally going to 50. After bouts of nausea and the gastro problem I had where I thought my stomach was exploding (took Zantac at primary docs advice, it helped), I stopped taking it. This was late September? and I got the rheumy to test me at the end of October. In January she said the tests were fine, and I had been drinking beer regularly through October, so I think it was Vioxx. You are right, the warnings are right on the box, and they now think that the COX-2's are not that different than NSAIDs when it comes to possible bleeding. The companies making them had only released six months worth of studies to base their claims on, and when a years worth of data came out it showed that there was not as significant a difference in the way COX-2's affected your stomach vs. NSAIDs.

I plan on going to another doctor, even if outside my HMO and if I must pay, to get my blood checked within the next month or so. Second and third opinions are more important to me than ever these days.

Let us know what your doc says when you see him...

Peace
Linc

Linc O'Brien

I just posted on the main board about a Vioxx warning, 5-7 people got aseptic menengitis requiring hospitalization, around 12 days after taking the drug. Similar findings with Celebrex. Merck now must list it as a possible side effect. It causes spinal cord and brain swelling.....fun!

Peace
Linc


Linc O'Brien

Edited by Strutsy on 03/25/02 05:15 PM (server time).

I am glad I haven't had any of these problems with vioxx. Thanks for the info.
Darren

Edited by Strutsy on 03/25/02 05:17 PM (server time).

I have been on Vioxx for a little more than a year and thought it was a god send until last week. I
had intestinal bleeding and my rheumy told me to stop taking everything until I get a colonoscopy.
I am going to the doctor tomorrow, but I was wondering if anyone else had similar problems with
Vioxx. I'm going to make sure that my doctor tests my liver after reading some of these posts.

Did anyone experience any symptoms related to the elevated liver counts? My urine has been
very yellow lately and I've been getting a lot of headaches as well. Maybe this is all unrelated, but
I'd be interested to know if anyone has had similar symptoms.

Thanks,
Steve

Dear Steve:

I also had very yellow urine. I have read where brown urine is a sign of liver trouble. I do not know about dark yellow.

Be sure to talk to your doctors about this. Also, be sure you have had a blood test recently for liver enzymes.

I think that VIOXX is a wonderful drug. Still, it is really scary to hear so many stories about people who ar fine one day and have fairly or very serious problems the next.

Fred

Hey Steve! Welcome to KA!

To the best of my knowledge, Vioxx is more often associated with kidney rather than liver problems. I think this might warrant a call to your doc. Of course, it could be really benign too. For example, if you havent been drinking enough fluids lately it might cause your urine to be more concentrated (and hence a darker yellow).

As for the GI problems, that really sucks. Even with the Cox-specific anti-inflammatories, you cant be guaranteed that you wont get GI problems.

Let us know how the doc appt goes.

Jeanna

Just got back from my doc appt. , I didn't realize it but my rheumy had tested my liver enzymes
along with a CBC a couple of weeks ago; everything checked out fine. My doctor took a urine
sample so we'll see if anything comes of that. My next step is to set up an appt. with a
gastroentorologist for a sigmoidoscopy and barium enema; fun stuff, huh?

Thanks for the feedback. This is a great website; it somehow makes me feel better to know that
there are others out there dealing with the same health issues as me.

Steve

Don't worry about the sigmoidoscopy... Will they give you drugs before it? I had an upper scope done and I was very nervous. They gave me drugs and I don't remember a thing!!!!!

********
Kristin

TODAY IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL!!

Kristin,

I don't think they give you drugs for this procedure. The part that bothers me the most is that
I can't eat anything for 24 hours before the tests. My father had the procedure done and he said
it was a little uncomfortable, but not really painful. I don't like the idea of anything going into that
part of my body, but I'm not overly nervous about it. Thanks for the concern!

Steve