Recently, a great deal of controversy has surfaced surrounding the arthritis drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors. These so-called miracle drugs were supposed to offer the same pain-relieving benefits as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) but without the gastro-intestinal side effects. Many people who were taking NSAIDs for their arthritis pain (like aspirin and ibuprofen) were experiencing gastrointestinal side-effects like bleeding ulcers and severe stomach pain.

Pfizer developed an arthritis drug called Celebrex and Merck developed a drug called Vioxx. They claimed these drugs would minimize the side effects linked to other NSAIDs. These drugs collectively generated close to $5 billion a year in revenue for these two drug companies. Over three million people around the world were taking these two arthritis drugs to treat their painful conditions.

Damaging Arthritis Drugs

As the years went by, the research started pouring in and these COX-2 inhibitor drugs started looking a little shaky in the eyes of the scientific community. When it came to gastrointestinal side effects, clinical trials revealed there was little to no difference between Vioxx and other NSAIDs and only a miniscule difference between Celebrex and other NSAIDs. Then results revealed that these two drugs could increase a person's risk of heart attack and stroke.

Drug companies have made billions and billions of dollars off of various arthritis drugs, and many of these drugs cause painful and dangerous side-effects. Fortunately, there are more natural products on the market that can provide arthritis sufferers with relief without tearing up their insides. Natural arthritis remedies like emu oil, vitamin E, vitamin C, and glucosamine don't just provide pain relief, they promote overall systemic health.