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February 9th, 2012

Vioxx: From the Shelf to the Senate Floor

by LawGuru Staff
Personal Injury, Product Liability
May 29th, 2007
No Comments

What is Vioxx?Vioxx, generic name rofecoxib, is a COX-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Vioxx is a prescription medicine prescribed primarily to reduce acute pain in adults, inflammation and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis, painful menstrual cycles, rheumatoid arthritis and certain forms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and to treat migraines.

What are the dangers of Vioxx?On October 1, 2004 Vioxx was voluntarily taken off the market in the largest prescription drug withdrawal in history. A study found it doubled the risk of having heart attack or stroke. Moreover, Vioxx has also been linked with several other deadly side effects, including nonbacterial meningitis, kidney damage, severe intestinal damage, angina, ulcerations, internal bleeding blood clots, and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), a fatal skin disease.

Legal IssuesThe first Vioxx-related personal injury lawsuit against Merck ended on Aug. 19, 2005, when a Texas jury found Merck liable for the 2001 death of a man who had taken the medication and awarded $253.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages to his widow.Since then, many lawsuits have been filed against Merck. Several scientists testifying before the Senate Finance Committee provided substantial evidence that the drug company Merck and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) knew of dangerous safety concerns years before the drug Vioxx was withdrawn from the market. A large ripple effect has ocurred, as many no longer trust the FDA, believing that the FDA has gotten too close to drug companies and are unable to act on behalf of the public at large.The liability resulting from lawsuits brought by the families of the men and women who have suffered deadly side effects from this terrible drug has reached several hundred million dollars.

If you believe you’ve suffered cardiovascular problems or other harmful side effects due to Vioxx, you may be entitled to damages. You can look for an attorney here:

Your Rights If you believe you’ve suffered cardiovascular problems or other harmful side effects due to Vioxx, you may be entitled to damages. To determine your rights, you should contact a personal injury attorney specializing in Vioxx related cases. You can search the LawGuru Attorney Directoryfor a personal injury lawyer in your area. Or, if you have additional questions about Vioxx and your situation, you can ask a free question of the LawGuru Attorney Network in our Knowledge Base.