Yet Another Arthritis Drug Banned by the FDA- Naturopathic Medicine Offers Options to the 66 Million Arthritis Sufferers
Physician explores natural alternatives to recently banned medications.
Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) April 12, 2005 -- With yet another prescription arthritis
drug banned by the FDA, consumers are confused as to the available options. Many
over-the-counter drugs taken as alternatives to recalled medications have now
been required by the FDA to list extra warnings for risk of cardiovascular
events, leaving the 1 in 3 Americans with arthritis wondering what their
alternatives are for treatment. Naturopathic medicine can offer effective
natural alternatives for people desiring options for their pain.
Bextra,
the latest drug banned by the FDA, belongs to a class of drugs called
cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, along with Vioxx, Celebrex, and NSAIDs.
Cyclooxygenase is an enzyme associated with inflammation, and drugs were
developed to address the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis
conditions. COX also serves an important factor in regulating the clotting
mechanism of blood. Inhibition of this enzyme has proven to be associated with
cardiovascular event risk such as heart attacks and strokes which prompted the
FDA action.
It is estimated that 66 million Americans suffer from chronic
joint conditions such as arthritis, up from 43 million in 1998. With 36% of
adults using some form of alternative medicine, it is important to note the
options that Naturopathic Medicine offers for arthritis sufferers.
According to David A. Tallman DC, ND, a naturopathic physician in
Scottsdale, Arizona whose practice is dedicated to arthritis and joint disease,
“natural anti-inflammatory medications have been used for a long time to
palliate pain,” says Tallman. “Proteolytic enzymes for example are well studied
and have proven efficacy as an anti-inflammatory. The amino acid
S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) has been shown to be as effective as Celebrex for
palliation of arthritis pain and has proven anti-depressant effects, with no
known toxicity.”
Dr. Tallman utilizes regenerative injection therapy
(RIT) in addition to these natural medicines to address the causality of pain
and degeneration.
Before starting on a regimen, be sure to seek advice
from a licensed physician trained in natural medicine. “Although nutritional
supplements and herbs can be powerful medications,” states Tallman, “it is
important not to self-prescribe any medications, either pharmaceutical or
natural.” When used correctly, natural medicine and therapies such as RIT can
offer significant relief for those in search of alternatives to COX 1 and 2
inhibitors.
Photos available: before and after X rays of arthritic joints
treated with RIT and naturopathic medicine
Patients treated with natural
medicine for arthritis available for comment
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/4/prweb227638.htm