Cox-2 Alternatives
This questions just hit my email box this morning, a person fearful about the banning of Cox-2 drugs. I'll show the question and my answer below. There are much safer ways to treat pain and inflammation, and the "real" treatments are not only safe, they are curative.
Question: Every medication that my Dr. puts me on is being banned: eg. Vioxx, Celebrex (which did nothing for me), and now Bextra (bextra giving me the best relief). I'm getting quite frustrated and a little fearful about the prognosis of relieving the neck, shoulder and back pain that I have (mostly neck pain-that's most severe). I was reading thru your site again this morning and re-read your assistant's article, written just after New Years, the one mentioning her car accident. It mentioned that you put her on Bromelain? I was reading (from link) about it and was wondering if Bromelain would/could be a viable alternative to the meds that I've been on?? And if so, how much would I take? I currently take 20mg of Bextra, and am also taking 75mg of Effexor each morning. My worry is that there's going to be absolutely nothing available to control the inflamation and pain in my neck.
Answer: You need to be on an optimal potency multiple vitamin/mineral supplement that contains a full daily dose of bone nutrients. I recommend my Maxi Multi because it condenses at least four separate formulas (a multiple, ACES, calcium/magnesium and high B complex) into one formula. SMOKING accelerates bone loss and smokers have a much higher rates of osteoporosis and bone fractures than non-smokers.
Bone loss and related pain isn't caused from a Vioxx deficiency and depression isn't caused from an Effexor deficiency! (depression is most often caused by a B complex vitamin deficiency and clears up nicely when the deficiency is corrected). Bromelain is a great anti-inflammatory BUT you really need the bone nutrients in order to reverse these problems.
To summarize my basic recommendations:
I.) Maxi Multi : 3 caps, 3 times per day with meals.
II.) Bromelain : 1 cap, 4 times per day between meals. (Please note the Wellness Club brand is 400mg of a 2,400MDU potency. Most formulas in the health food stores are 4of a 600MDU potency, so you would have to take 4-6 caps to equal one of mine. Gotta' get the right potency so it will do it's job!)
III.) STOP SMOKING
Additional recommendations:
I.) Glucosamine sulfate : (helps rebuild the joint material AND is pain-relieving after 6 weeks): 1,500mg, 2 times per day for 6 weeks, then 1,500mg per day thereafter.
II.) L-5-HTP : 1 cap, 3 times per day for 4-6 weeks, increase to 2 caps, 3 times per day thereafter IF you want to get off the EFFEXOR and correct the neurotransmitter levels that cause mood disorder. Remember, B vitamin deficiencies are a MAJOR cause of mood disorder, and smoking uses up the body's B vitamins like crazy. (Plus your diet is deficient in B complex vitamins, guaranteed). L-5-HTP is also used to treat pain and overweight. Be sure to take a look at it.
Hope this helps and I wish you success at getting yourself healthier. Everything that ails you is under your control; that's good news or bad news depending on how you choose to use it!
In Health,
Dr. Myatt
Please visit our websites for more alternative medicines health information:
Dr. Myatt's Wellness Club
The Super Fast Diet
