Vioxx: The Silent Killer

Vioxx (also known as Rofecoxib) is a prescription medicine used to relieve signs and symptoms of arthritis, acute pain in adults and painful menstrual cycles. Merck announced a voluntary withdrawal of Vioxx from the U.S. and worldwide market due to safety concerns of an increased risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke.

Vioxx is a COX-2 selective, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that was approved by the FDA in May 1999 for the relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, for the management of acute pain in adults and for the treatment of menstrual symptoms. Vioxx was supposed to be the 'super aspirin' that would relieve pain safely. Instead, Vioxx was recalled because it increased the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Vioxx is now known to double the risk of strokes and blood clots for patients who have taken the drug for longer than a few months. The drug, along with the other COX-2 inhibitors, is normally prescribed as a pain reliever for arthritis and other chronic inflammation and is taken over a long periods.

Strong evidence now suggests that Merck, the maker of Vioxx, acted irresponsibly in aggressively marketing Vioxx. Merck continued to heavily promote the sale of the drug for wide use, even though some research suggested that Vioxx might cause cardiovascular problems, such as increased rates of stroke and heart attacks.

If you or a loved one has taken Vioxx and has suffered a heart attack or stroke, contact an expert Vioxx lawyer. For more information, go to www.VioxxInfo.piczo.com.