Vioxx
Vioxx is the drug known as Rofecoxib, a Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug developed by Merck & Co that was used to treat various conditions and diseases, such as Osteoarthritis, Dysmenorrhoea and acute pain. Vioxx was available as tablets or as an oral suspension, and was sold generically as Rofecoxib and also branded as Ceoxx and Ceeoxx. Vioxx was a very popular drug for a few years and had widespread acceptance in the medical community with over 80 million users.
The Truth About Vioxx Side Effects
Vioxx, or Rofecoxib, was voluntarily withdrawn from the U.S. and world market in 2004 by the manufacturer. Why was Vioxx withdrawn? There was serious safety concerns for an increased risk of cardiovascular problems in patients taking the medication, including heart attack and stroke. Patients began to report many symptoms of these damaging conditions including abdominal pain, blood in their vomit, bloody, black, or tarry stools, swelling or water retention and a yellowing of their skin and eyes. Though pulled off the market, Merck & Co the manufacturer of Vioxx had made an estimated 2.5 billion dollars from Vioxx sales. For more on Vioxx news visit the website VioxxNews.com.
What Happened With Vioxx Lawsuits?
Since the recall of Vioxx, Merck and Co. has been involved in numerous Vioxx trials and lawsuits throughout the United States. Not only did individuals sue with the help of Vioxx lawyers, but even the state of New York sued the company for causing serious injuries to patients related to heart attack and stroke, and for aggressively promoting Vioxx without informing the public of its potentially fatal dangers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimates that out of some twenty million users, Vioxx has killed or injured somewhere between 88,000 and 139,000 people.
Merck & Co has denied to Vioxx attorneys that the drug is totally responsible for many people's deaths, citing that other factors besides the drug, such as obesity, high blood pressure, smoking and heart disease, also affect a person's health. Though Merck & Co's liability is estimated to reach 18 billion dollars, the company is playing hardball with many consumers and refusing to settle many cases out of court. Merck & Co believes that no drug is completely safe and that the FDA did receive all of the company's safety data on Vioxx – which namely said that although there were side effects, no clinical trials had proven any significant harm would come from taking the drug. Merck & Co's argument is that there is no accurate way to tie in the death of Vioxx patients to the drug itself, since heart attacks and strokes affect the general population every year. There are also lawyers and Vioxx trials happening in Oklahoma City lawyers and Vioxx lawsuits in Canada.
If you have injury cases related to Vioxx, or are looking for Vioxx attorney look up Vioxx lawyers online. Some Vioxx cases websites include Vioxxlawsuit.lawinfo.com, AlexanderLaw.com and VioxxLegalResources.com. Lawyers for Vioxx injury cases, as well as Oklahoma City Vioxx attorneys, may be able to help you get a settlement or a court win against the Merck company.