Increased Prescription of Narcotic Analgesics for Osteoarthritis in the Elderly Is Associated with Increased Falls and Fractures in the Post-Vioxx Era

Is it really coincidence that this study has the number 9-11? Merck’s withdrawal of Vioxx in 2004 had ampact on the COX-2-inhibitor world, which can be compared to the world after 9-11.


Lydia Rolita and colleagues looked into the unintended consequences of narcotic analgesics for osteoarthritis in the elderly. Narcotic analgesics contribute to falls in the elderly. Prescriptions were rising post-rofecoxib from 8% to 40%. The rate of falls has been higher in the group of narcotic analgesics users. The authors concluded that “these findings strongly indicate that recommendations for the treatment of chronic pain be reevaluated.”


[MON] 911
Unintended Consequences; Increased Prescription of Narcotic Analgesics for Osteoarthritis in the Elderly Is Associated with Increased Falls and Fractures in the Post-Vioxx Era.
Lydia Rolita1, Adele Spegman2 and Bruce N. Cronstein3.
1NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, 2Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA, 3New York Univ Medical Center, New York, NY
Conclusion: After Vioxx was taken off the market there was a marked increase in the prescription of narcotic analgesics. Falls and fractures in this elderly population with OA increased markedly and all of the increase in falls were in patients prescribed narcotic analgesics. These findings strongly indicate that recommendations for the treatment of chronic pain be reevaluated.