Prescription drugs used to treat arthritis have been pulled from the market, forcing users to change medications for their pain.

The dangerous and, in some cases, deadly drugs being prescribed to individuals with arthritis are called Vioxx and Bextra.

These drugs have been pulled from the market, but not without leaving behind many people with heart problems, said Batavia Pharmacist Lisa Zwemski. And in some cases, heart attacks and strokes.

Zwemski said Vioxx was pulled from the market voluntarily, and the Food and Drug Administration pulled Bextra.

Zwemski said these drugs were usually prescribed to individuals who were already at a high risk for health problems.

“Typically these drugs were not being prescribed for 20- or 30-year-olds; they were being prescribed to an older group, who were already at high risks for health problems,” Zwemski said.

The drugs have prompted legal inquiries.

A great number of users are upset by the negative side effects the drugs have left them with, said Attorney Michael Monheit, who practices in Philadelphia.

“Over 1,000 people have contacted me with serious health problems because of these drugs for the past three years,” Monheit said. “But more people have called since they have been pulled off the market.”

Even though Monheit received over 1,000 inquiries regarding health problems as a consequence of using these drugs, he said he only plans to use clients who suffered serious health conditions while on the drugs.

Some people, however, are upset because the drugs are gone.

DeKalb pharmacist William Barron has been working as a pharmacist for 30 years and has been working at the DeKalb Walgreens, 100 W. Lincoln Highway, for the past seven years.

The drugs were on the market for awhile and it upset some to see them pulled, Barron said.

Prescription drugs are stronger than over-the-counter painkillers, but OTC drugs still carry risk.

OTC drugs, such as Aleve, are part of the Cox2 inhibitor family of drugs, Zwemski said. These drugs can cause stomach problems in some users.

Kishwaukee Hospital Pharmacist Greg Katsion said that OTC drugs are generally safe and effective, if used correctly.

People using OTC drugs need to follow the instructions on the package, Katsion said.

Zwemski agreed and said that if the package calls for two pills some people will take four so the drug will work much better.

“It can be dangerous to take more pills than instructed because your body is working to process these drugs, and when taken in high doses, your body has to work harder to process them,” Zwemski said.