• Achilles Tendon Rupture
• Arthritis
• Achilles Tendon Rupture
• Arthritis
• Autism
• Birth Defects
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• 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
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• 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 Attorney

Vioxx, a Cox-2 inhibitor drug manufactured by Merck, is currently the subject of many defective drug lawsuits across the country. If you have been injured from taking this drug, a Vioxx attorney can help you receive the compensation you deserve.

Approved by the FDA in 1999, Vioxx was prescribed as a substitute for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin. It was typically used to relieve the pain and swelling caused by arthritis, although it was often given to patients who experienced gastrointestinal problems from NSAIDs as well.

Vioxx initially became popular because many patients experienced fewer stomach issues than with the NSAIDs they would regularly take. However, it quickly became clear that Vioxx’s side effects were much more serious than those caused by over-the-counter NSAIDs. These included an increased risk of:

• 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

Many of these problems proved fatal.

The Difference between NSAIDs and Cox-2 Inhibitors

NSAIDs inhibit both Cox-1 and Cox-2 enzymes. Both of these enzymes are responsible for the pain and swelling experienced as a result of an inflammation. However, Cox-1 enzymes also protect the lining of the stomach. Since NSAIDs inhibit both of these enzymes, frequent use of these drugs can lead to gastrointestinal problems.

Cox-2 inhibitors such as Vioxx selectively block only the Cox-2 enzyme while the Cox-1 enzyme is unaffected. Since only the Cox-2 enzymes are affected, the body’s natural balance of these two enzymes is thrown off, leading to serious, potentially fatal heart and vascular system problems.

Merck Failed to Warn Doctors and Consumers

Shortly after Vioxx received FDA approval, Merck became aware of evidence that the drug doubled patients’ risk of fatal heart problems. Allegedly, the company intentionally chose not to disclose this information to doctors and consumers, and they even failed to include reports of heart attacks in their published studies of the drug.

By 2004, a significant number of independent studies clearly demonstrated the serious risks associated with Vioxx, prompting Merck to recall the drug. In the five years it was on the market, Vioxx was prescribed to more than 84 million people worldwide and was associated with 88,000 heart attacks. Approximately 38,000 of these were fatal.

Vioxx Lawsuits

There are currently thousands of Vioxx lawsuits pending against Merck. Several have already been decided in favor of victims who suffered heart attacks, strokes, and other serious conditions as a result of taking this dangerous drug. In one notable verdict, Merck was ordered to pay $253 million to an injured victim in 2005. Their negligence and repeated efforts to conceal information from the public have resulted in several other substantial damage awards in defective drug claims.

If you have suffered a serious injury from taking Vioxx, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. It is important to consult an experienced Vioxx attorney who can help ensure the greatest likelihood of a successful outcome to your claim.

Please visit The Injury Lawyer Directory today to find a Vioxx attorney near you.