Patients without drug coverage could consider over-the-counter NSAIDs, but only for periodic—not chronic—use, the report said. The evidence shows that the COX-2 inhibitors Celebrex (celecoxib) and Bextra (valdexocib) may cause fewer stomach ulcers, but it's not clear yet whether they lower the risk of dangerous ulcers or serious gastrointestinal bleeding, and physicians may be more cautious about prescribing these therapies in the wake of Vioxx's recall, the report said.
The Drug Effectiveness Review Project plans 25 reports in all, and will update its reports every 6 months. The Best Buy Drugs project is funded partly by grants from the Engelberg Foundation, and from the National Library of Medicine.