• Achilles Tendon Rupture
• Arthritis
• Achilles Tendon Rupture
• Arthritis
• Autism
• Birth Defects
• Blindness: Fungal Keratitis
• Blindness: NAION
• Cancer
  • Cancer: Breast Cancer
  • Cancer:
    Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma
• Cardiovascular Disorder
  • Cardiovascular:
    Arrhythmia/Heart Palpitations
  • Cardiovascular: Drug-Induced Hypertension, Heart Attack
  • Cardiovascular:
    Valvular Heart Disease
  • Cardiovascular/Respiratory: Pulmonary Hypertension
• Catatonia
• Cholestasis
• Depression: Drug-Induced with Possible Thoughts of Suicide
• Diabetes
• Gastrointestinal Disorders
  • Gastrointestinal: Esophagitis
  • Gastrointestinal: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)/Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
  • Gastrointestinal: Pseudomembranous Colitis
• Hallucinations
• Hypochlorhydria
• Hypoglycemia
• Hyponatremia
• Hypothyroidism
• Immune, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
• Immune Hemolytic Anemia (IHA)
• Infertility
• Kidney Damage/Renal Failure
• Kidney Stones
• Liver Damage:
  Drug-Induced or Toxic Hepatitis
• Lupus
• Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Nervous System and Sensory Disorders
• Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
• Neutropenia
• NSF/NFD
  (Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy)
• Osteonecrosis/Dead Jaw
• Pancreatitis
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML)
• Psoriasis
• Pulmonary: Aggravated Asthma/Asthma Death
• Pulmonary: Drug-Induced Pulmonary Disease
• Reproductive Health and Congenital Disorders
• Serum Sickness
• Sexual Dysfunction
• Side Effect Concerns
• Sleep Disorders/Sleep Disturbances
• Stevens Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome (TEN) or Lyell's Syndrome
• Stroke/Blood Clots
• Thrombocytopenia
• Tremors
• Uterine Rupture
• Vitiligo

Vioxx Lawsuits

Vioxx was prescribed to patients suffering from arthritis as an alternative to over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin. It is also prescribed to patients who suffer from gastrointestinal problems due to the use of NSAIDs, since as a Cox-2 inhibitor drug, it does not aggravate the stomach.

While Vioxx patients experienced a reduction in serious stomach problems, they were subject to other side effects which were much more dangerous to their health. These include:

• Heart attacks
• Strokes
• Peripheral vascular events (problems with blood supply to parts of the body other than the heart and brain)
• Angina pectoris
• Kidney damage

What are Cox-2 Inhibitors?

Your body has both Cox-1 and Cox-2 enzymes. Both of these enzymes contain chemical messengers which are responsible for the pain and swelling caused by an inflammation. However, Cox-1 enzymes also protect the stomach lining.

Since NSAIDs inhibit both Cox-1 and Cox-2 enzymes, the consumption of these drugs also results in a loss of protection of the stomach lining. This may lead to a variety of gastrointestinal issues ranging from an upset stomach to ulceration and bleeding in the stomach.

Cox-2 inhibitors, on the other hand, do not affect Cox-1 enzymes. Therefore, they can relieve pain and swelling without producing the stomach issues typically associated with NSAIDs. Unfortunately, they also have the unintended side effect of creating an imbalance between these two enzymes in the body, impacting blood clotting and potentially causing fatal heart and vascular system problems.

Misleading Information from the Pharmaceutical Company

Merck, the manufacturer of Vioxx, became aware of serious complications associated with the drug as early as 1999, the year Vioxx received FDA approval. In particular, their studies of the drug indicated that patients’ risk of serious, potentially fatal heart problems doubled as a result of taking Vioxx. However, they allegedly chose not to disclose this information to doctors and patients. They even went as far as failing to include reports of heart attacks in their published studies.

It took five years and an increasing body of evidence supporting the dangers of Vioxx before Merck decided to withdraw the drug from the U.S. market. During that time, at least 84 million people across the world had taken the drug, which had been linked to 88,000 heart attacks, including 38,000 that were fatal.

Vioxx Lawsuits

If you or a loved one has suffered a heart attack, stroke, or other serious condition from taking Vioxx, you may be entitled to receive compensation through a defective drug lawsuit. Currently, Merck faces thousands of Vioxx lawsuits, and they have already lost several high profile cases due to their failure to adequately disclose the risks associated with the drug. The most notable was a $253 million verdict in 2005. An experienced Vioxx lawyer can review your case and advise you on how to proceed.