Bextra is the most recent painkiller to be pulled from shelves after studies found increased health risks. Bextra raised the risk of heart disease and strokes, and it has also been linked to serious skin problems. People who take Bextra to alleviate pain due to arthritis should consult their doctor before starting a new pain management plan, said Dr. Josephine Patricia Dhar, a rheumatologist at Henry Ford Hospital and assistant professor of medicine at Wayne State University.