What is Vioxx?
Vioxx is a popular anti-inflammatory medication introduced to the U.S. market in 1999, and used to be prescribed to ease the pain, swelling and other symptoms of osteoarthritis. Before drugmaker Merck & Co. withdrew it from the worldwide market September 30, 2004, it was most commonly given to patients with Osteoarthritis. Vioxx belongs to a class of medications known as cyclooxygenase-2, or COX-2, inhibitors. Sales topped $2.55 billion in 2003.

Why did Merck take Vioxx off the market?
Merck pulled its best-selling arthritis drug off the market based on data indicating the drug increases the risk of heart attack and stroke among users.

Merck announced the immediate, voluntary worldwide withdrawal after a three-year colon cancer clinical trial with 2,600 patients revealed that 18 months after patients started taking Vioxx, test results showed an increased risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular complications.
84 million people have used Vioxx since 1999.

How can an arthritis drug lead to heart attack and stroke?
Scientists say they are not sure. However, several studies have indicated that Vioxx and other COX-2 inhibitors are known to raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attack. Drugs such as Vioxx and Pfizer's Celebrex inhibit Cox-2, an enzyme that triggers pain and inflammation.

Vioxx has also been associated with several other life-threatening side effects, including blood clots, angina and nonbacterial meningitis, severe intestinal damage, ulcerations and bleeding, and kidney damage.

What are the side effects of Vioxx?
Side effects may include, but are not limited to, heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, swelling of the lower extremities (legs and/or feet), high blood pressure, itching, stomach ulcers or bleeding, fatigue, vomiting, dark urine, and black stools.

In addition to increasing risk of heart attack and stroke, patients taking Vioxx were found to be four times more likely to suffer from heart attack than those taking Naproxen (Aleve). Vioxx is more likely to cause severe intestinal damage, ulcerations and bleeding, blood clots and toxic epidermal necrolysis (a fatal skin disease), than other arthritis pain relievers.

Other health problems include:

• Serious kidney problems that could lead to acute kidney failure.
• Serious liver problems.
• Allergic reactions, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat which can cause difficulty breathing or swallowing.
• The FDA reports that Vioxx has also been linked to at least five cases of a non-bacterial type of meningitis, a rare but serious side effect.

These conditions may come about suddenly with few or no symptoms. If left untreated, hospitalization or even death can occur.

What does this mean for Celebrex or Bextra, the other two drugs in the class known as COX-2 inhibitors?
In light of the Vioxx study findings, several top scientists have stated that the finding of an elevated risk of heart attacks and strokes applies to all COX-2 inhibitors. Clinical trials of Celebrex and Bextra did not reveal the same problems as Vioxx because participants were allowed to take aspirin, which has proved to reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems.

Pfizer, maker of Celebrex and the less-prescribed Bextra, stands by its products.

What can I take instead of Vioxx or Celebrex?
Older medications like ibuprofen, naproxen or simply aspirin have been used as alternatives for Vioxx and Celebrex.

What should I do if I am currently taking Vioxx?
Contact your doctor to discuss discontinuing use of Vioxx and possible alternative medications.

What should I do if I have been a victim of prescription drugs?
You may be experiencing pain and suffering and severe financial hardships. You should not go through this difficult time alone. You, the patient, should not be paying for your doctor's mistakes or negligence. If you or a loved one are living with the consequences of the effects from a prescription drug, it is important to contact an experienced lawyer who can protect your rights and get you the compensation to which you are entitled.

If I file suit against the manufacture of Vioxx, what are my chances of winning?
Every case is different; however, patients who were prescribed Vioxx and experienced serious health conditions (such as a heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure) because of it have an excellent chance to recover monetary compensation for the losses that they have incurred.

How common is pharmaceutical / prescription negligence?

• Prescription drug side effects, or Adverse Drug Events (ADE’s) result in more than 550,000 injuries and over 100,000 deaths each year, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.
• Nearly one out of every five medication doses given in hospitals and nursing facilities is improperly dispensed or prescribed. More than 40 potentially harmful drug errors occur, on average, in hospitals on a daily basis. (Archives of Internal Medicine).
• In pediatric emergency rooms, according to statistics, doctors misprescribe 4 in every 1,000 prescriptions written. (presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics conference).

Unfortunately, pharmaceutical negligence/malpractice, by doctors and pharmacists, is too common. The prescription drugs and victims of these medications are widespread.

If you feel that you, or someone you love, has been injured by prescription/pharmaceutical negligence, please contact us for a free evaluation.