Vioxx | Arthritis And Acute Pain
(Please take a look at a recent Fosamax,
Zyprexa and Vioxx commercial on YouTube, presented
by Angel Reyes.)
Vioxx®
(rofecoxib) is a popular prescription-only drug prescribed
to treat arthritis and acute pain. The drug was recalled
from the market on September 30, 2004 due to increased
risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular
events in patients. It is estimated that 2 million
people worldwide were taking the drug at the time of
its withdrawal.
Vioxx is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID),
and is in a class of drugs referred to as a Cox-2
Inhibitors. The increased risk to patients on Vioxx
received widespread coverage during a medical study
of 2,600 patients intended to prove whether the drug
could decrease the risk of recurrence of colon polyps.
Originally intended to last three years, the study was
halted after 18 months, when it became clear that the
cardiovascular risk to the patients was too great to
continue.
Prior to the recall of Vioxx there had been previous
studies which indicated an increase in risk of heart
attack and stroke in patients. In 2001 the FDA, U.S.
Food and Drug Administration, sent Merck
a letter warning that their Vioxx package labeling
understated the risk of heart problems and forced
Merck to relabel the drug in April 2002.
If you or
someone you care about has taken Vioxx and experienced
a heart attack, stroke or any other serious cardiovascular
abnormalities, please fill out our Case Review Contact
Form to the right on this page to find out what your
case is worth.
