'The most important thing is weight loss,' says Coblyn. Celebrex remains on the market with a label warning about cardiovascular risks.īut a surprising, and important, thing to know is that you don't necessarily have to rely on drugs to reduce osteoarthritis pain. COX-2 inhibitors like Vioxx and Celebrex appeared to relieve inflammation while protecting the stomach, and that claim propelled the prescription painkillers to prominence, Coblyn says, 'but there was never any evidence that they were better than ibuprofen or naproxen.' There has been evidence that COX-2 inhibitors may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke Merck, the maker of Vioxx, took the drug off the market last year, and court cases against the company are piling up. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen can cause ulcers and internal bleeding when taken long term. The search for a drug to combat the pain has been problem-plagued - and perhaps even dangerous - for some patients. The incidence of this condition increases as one ages, he says, and by age 50, an estimated 50 percent of people have osteoarthritis pain in at least one joint. Jonathan Scott Coblyn, director of the Center for Arthritis and Joint Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Osteoarthritis, that wear and tear on joints that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness, is just another natural sign of aging, says Dr.

Jonathon coblyn