Vioxx Recall

It seems that every day a new drug is released upon society and every other day another is recalled by the FDA or pulled from the market! One of the latest is a market withdrawal on Vioxx; a prescription drug used to help suffers of inflammatory diseases such as osteo and rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduced to doctors and patients in 1999, Vioxx was one of many non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs touted to give relief for the pain and discomfort of arthritis and other muscle/joint disorders. In their 1999 annual report, Merck described Vioxx as their biggest fastest launch ever, with over 5 million prescriptions written the first seven months on the US market. In Sept. 2004 Vioxx was voluntarily withdrawn by Merck, the pharmaceutical company that manufactured it.

Issued on the heels of recalls on other similar drugs such as Bextra as well as new regulatory guidelines for other prescription and OTC anti-inflammatory drugs, this recall on Vioxx makes me wonder if the FDA’s testing policy for new drugs should be revamped before turning them loose on an unsuspecting public.

Frequently Asked Question about Vioxx Recall

 

 

Q	I've heard that Vioxx has been pulled from the market in the United States. Is this true?
A:	Yes. Vioxx is no longer being sold in the United States or in any other country.
Q:	Who chose to stop selling Vioxx in America-the FDA or the drug company?
A:	Merck-the drug company that makes Vioxx- volunteered to quit selling Vioxx. The FDA did not force Merck to recall Vioxx, Merck decided to quit selling Vioxx. Considering the many risks to patients, the FDA supported Merck's decision.
Q:	Why did Merck decide to quit selling Vioxx?
A:	Because of the dangerous risk of stroke and heart attack in patients who took Vioxx on a long-term basis.
Q:	What are the health risks of taking Vioxx?
A:	A long-term study showed that patients using Vioxx doubled their risk of having a stroke, heart attack, or other severe cardiovascular injury.
Q:	How does the Vioxx recall affect me?
A:	If you suffered serious health risks such as a heart attack after taking Vioxx, you may have specific legal rights. Click here to consult our Vioxx lawyer.