Vioxx and Trasylol

Drugs have been advertised as promising treatment for medical conditions only to be removed from the market after many have suffered or died from the very same drugs' side effects. Vioxx was one drug advertised by its manufacturer Merck to be a newer type of NSAID (COX-2 inhibitor) that was less likely to cause bleeding and digestive problems. Vioxx was indicated to treat arthritis and pain-relief but it was pulled due to its association with strokes, heart attacks and even deaths.

Bayer's Trasylol, a clotting agent, was used to prevent bleeding during heart surgery. Dr. John K. Jenkins, director of the FDA's Office of New Drugs reported that there was no patient population that used Trasylol in which the benefits outweighed the risk. Trasylol was removed fom the market due to kidney damage, heart attack, stroke and death.

In cases like Vioxx and Trasylol less riskier and inexpensive drug options were available. So why were these drugs used instead? Americas Watchdog group and its subsidiary US Drug Watchdog are investigating that very question. The groups believe that pharmaceutical giants were taking advantage of HMO's and health insurance companies by charging higher fees for these drugs. Many reports cited that these drugs caused risks to patients. Americas Watchdog believes that despite these warning patients, health plans, labor unions, insurance companies and HMO's were overcharged.

The watchdog company would like to speak to the victims, family members of the victims and health insurers that have had experience with either Trasylol or Vioxx. In a 60 Minutes report, Trasylol has been associated with over 22,000 deaths and kidney failure cases in the United States. While there were inexpensive generic options to help prevent bleeding during heart surgery Trasylol was used at a cost of $1000 per dose; the generic version cost $7 and had no side effects.

Americas Watchdog stated, "We think there are thousands of US citizens who were given Trasylol for an open heart surgery or hip replacement surgery and now they are either dead, or they have suffered kidney failure, and the victim or their family never connected the dots."

Health insurance companies and HMOs incur big costs from pharmaceutical companies in which they have to pass on some of the financial weight onto consumers. In the cases of Vioxx and Trasylol, Americas Watchdog and US Drug Watchdog want to help consumers and health companies make things right with regard to their expenses. The watchdog organizations are convinced that HMO's, health insurance companies and organized labor prescription drug programs were stuck paying for an ineffective drugs like Vioxx which increased the risk for patients to get a heart attack or stroke.

Commercially advertised drugs help to heighten consumer awareness. When it comes to the differences that matter, with respect to risk, patients need to discuss safer alternatives with their doctors. For those patients who used Vioxx or Trasylol Americas Watchdog would like to help them as well as health insurance companies get their money back. If you have experience with the use of either drug call 866-714-6466 or visit the website at http://USDrugWatchdog.com.

Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/05/prweb914754.htm