Vioxx Lawsuit Merck & Co
Merck & Co the creators of Vioxx have a tuff job ahead of them in a series of vioxx lawsuit cases. Vioxx has been used primarily in the treatment
of signs and symptoms of arthritis, but has also been prescribed to treat acute pain in adults and menstrual
pain in women. It is a Cox-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID. Other Cox -2 selective
NSAIDs on the market are Celebrex and Bextra. Vioxx is also related to nonselective NSAIDs such as ibuprofen
and naproxen.
In September of 2004, its manufacturer, Merck & Co, voluntarily recalled Vioxx worldwide, due to safety concerns. The FDA issued
a public advisory regarding
the safety of Vioxx, though it was pulled from the market before the FDA had an
opportunity to do a thorough review. The recent vioxx lawsuit cases that are apearing on TV come from the reports of a growing list of
side effects such as blood clots, stroke and heart attack.
Merck pulled the drug from the market when a
study confirmed longstanding concerns about the drug and demonstrated that the regular use of Vioxx
doubled the patient’s risk of heart attack or stroke if used regularly and for a prolonged period. Reports such as this
are creating mounting piles of dangerous evidence for prosecuters and thier filed vioxx lawsuit.
The FDA originally approved Vioxx in May 1999. At that time, their data, which included approximately 5,000 patients,
did not indicate an increased risk for heart attack and strokes. However, later studies such
as the one involving colon polyps, and another to study the effects of Vioxx upon stomach ulcers,
show a correlation between the regular use of Vioxx and increased risk for heart attack or stroke. The most recent vioxx lawsuit has
cleared Merck & Co on November 3 2005.
After the recall of Vioxx, many doctors have recommended patients switch to other Cox-2 inhibitors such
as Celebrex or Bextra, however, these medications have raised health concerns as well. Other patients
have been advised to treat their symptoms with NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
As of late October 2005, there are over 6500 voixx lawsuit cases filed and waiting to be taken into court. Read about
the lastest vioxx trial
See also: Vioxx Side Effects