How Cox-2 Inhibitors Work
The COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes work as "switches" that activate the inflammatory response in cells by controlling the hormone known as prostaglandin. Prostaglandin works as a "messenger" to the cells, sending pain and trauma alert messages from the brain to the cells to start up the inflammatory response. When cells receive prostaglandin, blood vessels expand and pain receptors are alerted. Inflammation is a natural response to serious bodily injury, but increased inflammation is extremely painful and can grow quickly out of control.
COX-1 is an enzyme found in most tissues, particularly in blood platelets in the kidney and stomach. COX-1 works by promoting blood vessel constriction, a process known as vasoconstriction. The enzyme COX-2 helps thin the blood by expanding the blood cells in a process known as vasodilation.
COX-2 is primarily produced when the inflammatory response is triggered by trauma, inducing the body to produce prostaglandins. When both COX-1 and COX-2 are inhibited with traditional NSAIDs like aspirin, the delicate balance of vasoconstriction and vasodilation between the two enzymes is maintained. COX-2 inhibitors, however, work by selectively blocking only the COX-2 enzyme. This tips the balance in favor of the COX-1 enzyme, overly constricting the blood vessels. It is this imbalance in favor of vasoconstriction that is thought to be responsible for cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes.
Source:
Gil Segev, M.D., and Richard J. Katz, M.D., "Selective Cox-2 Inhibitors and Risk of Cardiovascular Events," Hospital Physician, February 2004.
The Early COX-2-Inhibiting Drugs: Vioxx and Celebrex
Vioxx and Celebrex were introduced in 1999, and quickly became some of the most frequently prescribed pain-fighting drugs in the U.S. In less than a year, there were over 100 million prescriptions for Vioxx and Celebrex. The reason for the rapid acceptance of these Cox-2 inhibiting drugs were the publication in the Journal of the American Medical Association of two trials that concluded that Vioxx and Celebrex were associated with a reduced instance of gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and ulcer when compared with the NSAIDs ibuprofen and naproxen.
Source: "Study supports improved gastrointestinal safety of coxibs," The Pharmaceutical Journal 265:7115 (September 23, 2000), 438; "Merck, FDA Grilled at Hearing," CNNMoney.com, November 18, 2004.
How We Can Help
Suffering a personal injury can put you at a serious disadvantage. No one expects to get hurt, and there is no way to plan your response in advance to an unexpected situation. Injured people can't always fight for themselves because of this disadvantage. Insurance companies and other business organizations, however, can and do plan their response to your injury long before it occurs. They have little incentive to offer you fair and just compensation for what has happened to you.
Personal injury lawyers exist to redress the balance of power between the injured and those that have done harm. They have the power of knowledge of the legal system, knowledge of the types of personal injury claims that exist and their value, and experience with insurance companies. They possess the negotiation skills that help put this power into your hands, and can work to get you a settlement that is usually better than any compensation you could negotiate on your own.
A personal injury can seriously affect your future as well as your current day-to-day activities. You deserve the counsel and protection of a qualified, experienced personal injury law firm that knows how to deal with these claims. We probably have experience with your type of personal injury, and can help you understand the value of your personal injury case and how best to proceed. Call the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin at 1-800-220-7321 or contact us right now and find out if you have a case today.
