VIOXX
Vioxx (known generically as Rofecoxib) is a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) that was used
to treat arthritis, osteoarthritis, and menstrual pain, as well as managing acute pain in adults.
Vioxx is in a class of drugs known as Cox-2 Inhibitors, and was on the U.S. market from 1999
until it was removed from the market in 2004.
Vioxx was taken off the market when it was linked to serious problems such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney damage, and arrhythmia. A recent report showed that using Vioxx for as little as two weeks put patients at an increased risk of suffering a heart attack.
Earlier clinical trials linked Vioxx to a doubled risk of blood clots, heart attacks, chest pain related
to heart disease, and stroke.
If you have taken Vioxx and have noticed any of the following symptoms talk to your doctor to ensure
that you are not suffering from serious side effects of Vioxx:
- abdominal pain or discomfort
- nausea
- blood in your vomit
- bloody stools
- unexplained weight gain
- fatigue,
- rash
- itching
- swelling
- yellowing of the eyes
- yellowing of the skin
- unusual bruising or bleeding
Vioxx in the News
[ VIOXX: New York Times] Aug-21-07: none of the 45,000 people who have sued Merck, contending that they or their loved ones suffered heart attacks or strokes after taking Vioxx, have received payments from the company.[ VIOXX: Reuters ] Jul-03-07: A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine says half of Vioxx patients who experienced cardiovascular events did so within 12 months, and the risk of heart attack and stroke went away within 14 days after patients stopped taking the drug, according to the report.
[ VIOXX: LAS ] May-16-07: Former users of Vioxx could be at risk for developing strokes for years after they have discontinued using the medication, a prominent public health expert has reported.
[ VIOXX: Boston.com ] Mar-27-07: FDA accused of approving too many drugs, such as Vioxx, without close enough review, and then acting too slowly when evidence mounts of problems such as heart attack or stroke after the drug is on the market.
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