In doubt and may not be as safe as previously thought. Research earlier this year has shown that these drugs increased risk of heart attacks although a relatively low risk, over those taking a pain reliever. The FDA is debating whether to add information about increased risk on both drugs’ labels. One Wall Street analyst has warned that this problem could have an adverse effect on Merck, drug company responsible for these drugs be placed on market - along with Pharmacia, which makes Celebrex, generating $2.3 billion in 12 months to March 31 of this year, Merck having sold $1.7 billion Vioxx during same 12 months.

Studies done last year showed that patients taking Vioxx had four times risk of heart attacks over patients taking Naproxen - another pain reliever. Naproxen is also sold under brands names of Naprosyn and Aleve. The risk of heart attacks increases over time, at about four heart attacks per 1,000 patients. This study was sponsored by Merck company, which also stated that their research does not show this problem of increased heart attacks with Vioxx.

These two drugs are among best-sellers of prescription drugs in world. They cause fewer ulcers that many other drugs given for pain. Richard R. Stover, a pharmaceutical industry analyst at Arnhold & S. Bleichroeder Inc, reported on April 27 that he did his own analysis on what he called “disturbing data” from Merck’s study. He stated that he was warning his clients, many of whom were institutional investors holding stock in Merck, that they should watch issue carefully because it could effect company’s stock price. Dr. M. Michael Wolfe, chief of gastroenterology section at Boston University School of Medicine and a member of FDA advisory committee stated that there should be a warning, after a review of issue earlier this year, stating that “The marketing of these drugs is unbelievable, I’m sure there are many people out there who are taking these drugs that should not be.”

There is a current debate going on between some doctors and Merck’s scientists as to whether higher risk of heart attacks is a result of Vioxx causing damage in some patients or to an absence of benefits that Naproxen may have in protecting heart, that Naproxen stops or slows production of thromboxane, which is thought to cause platelet in blood to form clots, similar to aspirin effect.

When insulin resistance, or reduced insulin sensistivy, exists, body attempts to overcome this resistance by secreting more insulin from pancreas. This compensatory state of hyperinsulinemia (high insulin levels in blood) is felt to be a marker for syndrome. The development of Type II, or non-insulin dependent, diabetes occurs when pancreas fails to sustain this increase insulin secretion. It is not clear how insulin resistance contributes to presence of high blood pressure, but it is clear that high insulin levels resulting from insulin resistance contribute to abnormalites in blood lipids—cholesterol and triglycerides.