A WARRINGTON man and former Tottenham Youth Team footballer says a new all-in-one drug has transformed his quality of life.
Theo Phocou, 45, from Great Sankey, is one of the first patients in the country to take Axorid, a new drug which helps prevent arthritis sufferers from fatal gastric bleeding.
Taken as a 46p daily capsule, the drug delivers pain relief and protection to the stomach in one pill which contains a painkiller and protective omeprazole, which reduces levels of stomach acid. It is available to anyone for the 
symptomatic treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis or Ankylosing spondylitis.
Axorid is the first medicine to combine a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory treatment (NSAID) with a proton pump inhibitor to protect the stomach from ulcers and bleeding in a single pill.
Around 4,000 people develop stomach ulcers every year through taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen – and 700 die. These drugs are prescribed for pain relief, but patients are supposed to take a gastro protective medication at the same time to prevent stomach ulcers.
However, many forget to take both, with sometimes life threatening complications.
Theo said: “Like many footballers I’ve got dodgy knees thanks to all the sport I’ve done. I’ve been taking a combination of painkillers and arthritis medication two or three times a day for a number of years depending on the pain.
“I’ve always loved sport. As a school boy I played football for Tottenham Youth Team but when I was 17, I broke my leg in a bad tackle and my career was over. As a result of the injury the cartilage in my knee had to be removed. Back then, when you had wrecked your cartilage that was it. Due to wear and tear the cartilage went in my other knee two years ago.
“Its left me with arthritis in both my knees and, despite keyhole surgery to scrape it out, I’ve been taking up to eight painkillers and three anti-inflammatories every day since.
“Today, it’s great to be taking just one pill in the morning that provides me with both pain relief and stomach protection. I don’t have issues with my stomach any more, I no longer feel drowsy from all the medication and everyday things like driving the car are easier to do. I feel that I can get on with my life.
“It also lets me get out there and do what I love which is coaching football. I coach Southside Junior FC Under 12 Team, which my son Matthew plays for. Hopefully, he will have better luck than me with injuries.”
Picture: Theo with the team he coaches.
