I have no interest in Plavix.
I do not want to become an expert in Plavix.
I happened to notice news reports over the years that multiple trials of this drug have been halted. This raised a red flag, especially in one case when the Plavix group was dying faster than the placebo group.
Of course the drug company will attempt to put the best spin on this, by blaming the failure on a certain class of patients. The question is, how do you identify whether you are a member of a particular class? (I notice that the FDA now says, the risks increase because of a specific genetic disposition, and there is a genetic test for this.)
But I also noticed that the risks may be associated with a diminished P450 "system" which implies that ingesting grapefruit juice would be harmful with this drug!
Re:I'd be very uncomfortable NOT making the distinction. We are all patient types, like it or not. Someone with primary hyperoxaluria could rightly claim megadosing Vitamin C was dangerous...
Not if they were megadosing with sodium ascorbate. According to Pauling, calcium oxalate stones generally form in acidic urine. Vitamin C can be taken in its non acidic form - sodium ascorbate, which would in theory be highly protective. References: Pauling's HOW TO LIVE LONGER AND FEEL BETTER, pg 350-351 (paperback)
We have posted this before, but as a review:It is well known that there are two class of kidney stones, and that a tendency to form them should be controlled in two quite different ways. The stones of one class, comprising nearly one half of all urinary calculi, are composed of calcium phosphate, magnesium ammonium phosphate, calcium carbonate or mixtures of these substances. They tend to form in alkaline urine and persons with a tendency to from them are advised to keep their urine acidic. A good way, probably the best way, to acidify the urine is to take 1 gr or more of ascorbic acid every day. Ascorbic acid is used by many physicians for this purpose....
The kidney stones of the other class, which tend to form in acidic urine, are composed of calcium oxalate, uric acid, or cystine. Persons with a tendency to form these stones are advised to keep their urine alkaline. This can be achieved by their taking vitamin C as sodium ascorbate or by taking ascorbic acid with just enough sodium hydrogen carbonate (ordinary baking soda) or other alkalizer to neutralize it.
Not a single case has been reported in the medical literature of a person who formed kidney stones because of the large intake of vitamin C.
Linus Pauling HTLLAFB p.350
And this transcribing exercise reminded me of my initial contention - that anyone on a drug, by definition, a toxic substance foreign to the body, would want to get off the drug. For the best support of this contention, I might suggest taking the time to read the entire Pauling book HTLLAFB (1986).
p.s. Noticed that the FDA has issued a Mar/Jun 2011 recall for Plavixhttp://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/EnforcementReports/ucm259420.htmPRODUCT
PLAVIX (clopidogrel bisulfate) Tablets, 75 mg, 30 count bottles, NDC 63653-1171-6. Recall # D-557-2011
CODE
Lot 0F61121 Exp Jun 2013
RECALLING FIRM/MANUFACTURER
Recalling Firm: Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., New Brunswick, NJ, by letters on March 1, 2011.
Manufacturer: Bristol Myers Squibb Manufacturing Co., Humacao, PR. Firm initiated recall is ongoing.
REASON
Chemical contamination; presences of 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA).
VOLUME OF PRODUCT IN COMMERCE
105,576 bottles
DISTRIBUTION
Nationwide
Owen R. Fonorow
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