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drug_recall vioxxVioxx is one of a newer group of non-steroid anti - inflammatory drug s (NSAID) developed in the 1990s to treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, other severe forms of pain, and menstrual cramps. The first cluster of NSAIDs caused gastrointestinal problems and ulcers in many patients , so new types of drugs were formulated. There are two types of enzymes that original NSAIDs inhibited : COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 protects the lining of the stomach and may prevent clotting which can lead to heart failure and other problems. COX-2 is the inhibitory enzyme that prevents tissue inflammation but may increase the risk of heart problems or seizures. Vioxx and other drugs like it only affect COX-2 enzyme inhibition. This is thought to be the main reason that Vioxx and heart failure are closely linked.
In September 2004 , the manufacturers of Vioxx, Merck and Co, voluntarily withdrew Vioxx from the worldwide market in light of recent evidence that Vioxx and heart failure, stroke, and other serious side effects pose a serious threat to patients that outweighs the benefits of keeping Vioxx on the market. This major market move comes in light of new evidence based on internal company clinical trials that show a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that patients taking Vioxx for an extended period of time will suffer from heart problems or strokes.
Merck''s study began in 2000 and was initially designed to test the effects of Vioxx on colon polyps. It was intended to be a three year study called APPROVe, but was stopped short when Vioxx and heart failure rates were found to have a corollary relationship. The study found no evidence that Vioxx and heart failure rates were linked during the first eighteen months of the study, but soon after , patients began to suffer strokes and other heart problems with a much higher frequency (twice as often) in the Vioxx using population than in the non-Vioxx using population. These results mimicked earlier studies that hinted that Vioxx and heart failure rates were related.
Heart failure is a serious condition in which the heart no longer functions properly. This can be a result of other conditions like heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy. This serious condition is often called Congestive Heart Failure because when the heart fails to pump properly , the lungs often become congested. This condition is a deadly side effect of Vioxx and heart failure symptoms should be watched for. Symptoms of heart failure include: shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing, edema (fluid buildup in body tissues), fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, rapid heart beat, and mental impairment (confusion or difficulty with thoughts).
Because Vioxx and heart failure have been scientifically linked, the manufacturer decided to pull Vioxx off the market. Officials advise patients currently taking Vioxx to consult their physicians as soon as possible to discuss their treatment options. If you have been injured as a result of Vioxx and heart failure, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your damages.
Two reports released Wednesday reveal that Merck waged a deceptive promotional campaign for its top-selling painkiller Vioxx and disguised company studies as the work of outside scientists.
JAMA Studies
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The third-largest drugmaker in the U.S, Merck, agreed to settle a majority of their claims involving the painkiller Vioxx for $4.85 billion.
The settlement is reportedly the larg...
An Idaho state jury has found that the painkiller Vioxx contributed to the heart attack of a postal worker. The jury awarded him and his wife a multimillion-dollar verdict.
Frede...